Madagascar, the world’s fourth largest island, has been rocked by a wave of deadly protests that forced President Andry Rajoelina to dissolve his government on Monday, September 29, 2025. The demonstrations, led primarily by young people frustrated with chronic electricity and water shortages, have left at least 22 dead and more than 100 injured, according to the United Nations. The unrest marks the gravest challenge to Rajoelina’s rule since his controversial re-election in 2023, and it has drawn international attention to the deep-seated economic and social crises gripping the country.
In a nationally televised address, President Rajoelina announced, “I have decided to terminate the functions of the Prime Minister and the government.” He added that Prime Minister Christian Ntsay and other cabinet members would serve in an interim capacity while he reviewed proposals for a new government over the next three days. “I understand the anger, the sadness, and the difficulties caused by power cuts and water supply problems. Your demands have been heard, and I apologize if there are members of the government who have not done the work that the people expected,” Rajoelina said, as reported by Reuters and Deutsche Welle.
The president’s decision came after days of mounting unrest, which began on Thursday, September 25, 2025. Thousands of mostly young demonstrators took to the streets of the capital, Antananarivo, and other cities, waving signs that read “We want to live, not survive.” Their grievances were clear: persistent power outages, unreliable water supplies, and a grinding poverty that has left three-quarters of Madagascar’s 30 million people below the poverty line, according to World Bank figures cited by Deutsche Welle. Only 36% of the population has access to electricity, and even that is plagued by daily, hours-long blackouts.
The state-owned utility, Jirama, which provides electricity and water, usually posts outage schedules on Facebook. But in a move that further inflamed public anger, Jirama suspended its Facebook activity for 36 days starting on the very day the protests erupted, cutting off a crucial channel of communication with frustrated residents.
As the demonstrations grew, so did the government’s response. Authorities declared a dusk-to-dawn curfew in an attempt to quell unrest. According to Reuters, security forces used tear gas and even live ammunition to disperse crowds, particularly during a tense standoff near the University of Antananarivo. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that the casualties included “protesters and bystanders killed by members of the security forces, but also others killed in subsequent widespread violence and looting by individuals and gangs not associated with the protesters.”
Yet the government has pushed back against the UN’s casualty figures. The foreign ministry argued that the numbers “did not come from competent national authorities and are based on rumors or misinformation.” Madagascar’s Foreign Minister Rasata Rafaravavitafika stated, “the government strongly denies” that 22 people had died, but so far, officials have not released their own tally of deaths or injuries.
The protests have not only been about basic services—they have also taken on a distinctly generational and global character. Protesters have adopted the pirate flag from the Japanese anime series “One Piece” as their symbol, a nod to youth-led movements in Nepal, Indonesia, the Philippines, and France that have used similar imagery. The movement has dubbed itself “Gen Z,” echoing the generational activism seen in Kenya and Nepal, where young people have recently forced political change, including the resignation of Nepal’s prime minister earlier this month. As Reuters highlighted, the Madagascar protests are the largest the country has seen in years and are inspired by the organizational tactics and online strategies of their counterparts abroad.
On Monday, demonstrators gathered at the University of Antananarivo, waving placards and singing the national anthem before attempting to march toward the city center. Police responded with force, firing tear gas to break up the crowds. Many protesters wore black, a sign of mourning and solidarity, and chanted for President Rajoelina’s resignation. Despite their calls, Rajoelina gave no indication he would step down, instead offering only an apology for his government’s failings and a promise of dialogue with the youth.
Rajoelina’s political journey has been tumultuous. He first seized power in a 2009 coup, led a provisional government, and then won the presidency in 2018. His most recent victory, in December 2023, was marred by allegations of irregularities and was boycotted by most opposition candidates, as reported by Deutsche Welle and Reuters. Critics argue that the president’s hold on power has come at the expense of democratic norms and economic progress, leaving Madagascar mired in poverty and instability.
The anger on the streets is rooted in daily struggles. With three-quarters of the population living on less than $2 a day, and basic infrastructure crumbling, many feel abandoned by a government they see as out of touch. “We acknowledge and apologise if members of the government have not carried out the tasks assigned to them,” Rajoelina said on state broadcaster Televiziona Malagasy, attempting to strike a conciliatory tone. He also promised measures to support businesses affected by looting and to create space for dialogue with young people.
But for many, the president’s words may ring hollow. The sacking of the energy minister last Friday was seen by some as too little, too late. The suspension of Jirama’s Facebook updates only deepened the sense of disconnect between rulers and the ruled. And with no clear plan for addressing the chronic shortages and grinding poverty, the path forward remains uncertain.
The protests in Madagascar are part of a broader pattern of youth-led activism across Africa and beyond, where young people—often dismissed as apathetic—are increasingly at the forefront of demands for accountability and change. By adopting global symbols and digital organizing tactics, Madagascar’s Gen Z protesters have signaled that their struggle is both local and universal, rooted in the daily hardships of life on the island but connected to a worldwide movement for dignity and justice.
As Madagascar awaits the formation of a new government, the country stands at a crossroads. The coming days will test whether President Rajoelina’s promises of dialogue and reform can restore calm, or whether the anger that brought thousands to the streets will continue to simmer. For now, the voices of Madagascar’s youth echo loudly, demanding not just survival, but a chance to truly live.