Madagascar’s president dissolved his cabinet after deadly protests led by Generation Z, leaving 22 dead and more than 100 injured, UN reported.
Madagascar’s president, Andry Rajoelina, announced on Monday the dissolution of his government after a wave of protests led by Generation Z shook the island nation.
Triggered by constant electricity and water cuts, the demonstrations have left at least 22 people dead and over 100 injured, according to United Nations figures.
The unrest began last Thursday in several cities, including the capital Antananarivo, quickly becoming the largest mobilizations in years. For Rajoelina, reelected in 2023 amid fraud allegations, this marks the greatest political challenge of his third term.
“I have decided to end the functions of the prime minister and the government. Until a new cabinet is formed, current ministers will serve in an interim capacity,” Rajoelina declared in a televised address. He apologized for government failures and promised support for businesses damaged in the looting.
The UN confirmed that at least 22 people —protesters and bystanders— were killed during the police crackdown and subsequent violence. Security forces used tear gas and rubber bullets against young demonstrators, many of whom organized through social media under Generation Z banners.
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk condemned the use of “unnecessary and disproportionate force” and urged the release of those arbitrarily detained. “I am shocked and saddened by the deaths and injuries,” he said.
The Malagasy government rejected the UN figures, claiming they were based on “rumors or misinformation.”
Inspired by recent protests in Nepal and Kenya, Malagasy demonstrators have adopted digital tactics to organize. At Antananarivo’s universities, hundreds of students held banners, sang the national anthem, and waved flags resembling those used in Nepal as a symbol of solidarity.
With youth unemployment hovering at 35% and basic services crumbling, frustration has reached a boiling point. “I heard the call, I felt the suffering,” admitted the president, who now seeks dialogue with the youth.
In an attempt to quell criticism, Rajoelina dismissed Energy Minister Olivier Jean Baptiste, accusing him of failing to act swiftly in response to the power crisis. The move came shortly after the president returned from the UN General Assembly in New York, where he had defended his administration.
Yet protests continue. In the capital and other cities, schools remain closed and curfews are in effect. Analysts warn that Generation Z’s demands reflect a deeper social fracture in Madagascar, where modernization projects stand in stark contrast to widespread poverty and lack of basic services.
