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Antananarivo, Madagascar — For the fifth straight day, hundreds of young people across Madagascar are taking to the streets, demanding the resignation of President Andry Rajoelina.
What began last week as frustration over water shortages and rolling blackouts has erupted into the country’s biggest protests in years — and the most serious challenge to Rajoelina since his disputed re-election in December 2023.
From Blackouts to Outrage
Protesters first gathered in the capital Antananarivo, but demonstrations have since spread to cities like Toliara. The chants are blunt: “Rajoelina Out.” Young people in rickshaws and on foot, waving flags and banners, are being escorted — and at times confronted — by security forces.
The United Nations reports at least 22 dead and more than 100 injured since the rallies began. The government denies these figures.
Rajoelina tried to ease pressure by dissolving his government on Monday, but protesters quickly made clear that wasn’t enough. Their demands: the president’s resignation, the dissolution of the election commission, the senate, and the top court.
History on Repeat?
For many Malagasy, Rajoelina’s own history makes the irony sting. He first came to power in a 2009 coup, stepped down in 2014, returned in 2018, and then secured a third term in 2023 amid allegations of election irregularities.
Opposition leader Rivo Rakotovao said his coalition would not join any government with Rajoelina still in power, calling instead for leadership “driven by the youth.”
A Wider Movement Across Africa
These protests don’t exist in isolation. Madagascar’s youth are taking cues from movements in Kenya, Togo, and even Nepal, where Gen Z–led uprisings have shaken governments in 2024 and 2025. The message is clear: Africa’s youth are refusing to live with corruption, mismanagement, and recycled leaders.
Even Pope Leo weighed in, calling for peace in a message from the Vatican. But as one protester told local media: “We don’t need prayers, we need accountability.”
The Bottom Line
Madagascar’s youth are tired of waiting for basic services like water and electricity — and even more tired of waiting for leaders to listen. The country may be an island, but its struggle is continental: Africa’s youth are rising, and they’re no longer afraid to say their leaders’ time is up.