Unrest in Madagascar: Gen Z Leads Massive Protests Against the Government

Tue Oct 21 2025 00:04:07 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Amid rampant shortages and frustration over living conditions, Madagascar's youth-led protests escalate, prompting the president to dismiss his government.

Madagascar is experiencing its most significant protests in over 15 years, primarily led by the youth, sparked by shortages of basic necessities and dissatisfaction with the government. President Andry Rajoelina’s measures, including the sacking of his government, have failed to quell the unrest, which has resulted in numerous casualties. The protests have spread across the nation, fueled by calls for accountability and political reform amid an ongoing energy crisis.

Thousands of people in Madagascar have taken to the streets in different parts of the country for the past week in the largest wave of protests the Indian Ocean island nation has witnessed in more than 15 years.

What began as anger over shortages of basic necessities has rapidly escalated into one of the most serious challenges facing President Andry Rajoelina, who has been in power, for the second time, since 2018. On Monday, in response, he sacked his government but that did not placate the protesters.

At least 22 people have been killed and more than 100 others injured in the unrest, according to the UN, although the Malagasy government has dismissed those figures and described them as based on 'rumours and misinformation'.

Pressure started to build following the arrest on 19 September of two leading city politicians, who had planned a peaceful demonstration in the capital, Antananarivo, over chronic power and water supply problems. There have been hours-long daily outages of the services run by state-owned utility company Jirama. Many saw their detention as an attempt to silence legitimate dissent leading to public outrage, with the cause taken up by civil society groups and the formation of a youth-led online movement known as Gen Z Mada.

The protests have since spread beyond Antananarivo, gripping eight other cities across the island, with no signs of subsiding. Waving banners, protesters have denounced the blackouts and accused the government of failing to guarantee basic rights. Activists have also blamed widespread corruption within the power company for the electricity crisis.

Initially, Gen Z Mada was co-ordinating what was going on through social media sites such as Facebook and TikTok. A committee was created to organise further demonstrations following a meeting between Gen Z Mada, civil society groups and local politicians. Other groups got involved once the protests started, including labour unions and civil society organisations calling for church-led talks.

The demonstrators have not issued a manifesto but what started with anger over public services has evolved into broader demands for political change. Many young people, facing insecure and poorly paid jobs, have called for the president's resignation, blaming him for the problems they are facing.

In response to the unrest, security forces have maintained a heavy presence across Antananarivo and other major cities, using tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds. A dusk-to-dawn curfew was imposed following reports of violence and looting, and despite Rajoelina's attempt to appease public anger by promising dialogue, many protesters remain resolute.

As Madagascar faces one of its gravest political crises, analysts caution that reliance on repression could intensify dissent, while calls for accountability and reform grow louder among the population.