Madagascar, the island nation off Africa’s southeastern coast known for its unique biodiversity and vanilla exports, is once again at the center of international attention. On October 14, 2025, the country’s president, Andry Rajoelina, was ousted in a dramatic military coup following weeks of youth-led protests that swept through the capital, Antananarivo, and beyond. The movement, which began as a response to crippling power and water outages, quickly snowballed into a nationwide outcry against corruption, poverty, and lack of opportunity.
The coup capped a period of mounting unrest. The protests, which kicked off in late September, were spearheaded by Gen Z activists but soon drew in civic groups, unions, and ordinary citizens fed up with the status quo. According to the BBC, demonstrators initially took to the streets over “chronic water and power cuts across the country.” But, as days turned into weeks, their demands broadened to include government corruption, high unemployment, the soaring cost of living, and the widespread poverty that afflicts roughly 75% of Madagascar’s 30 million people, as reported by the World Bank.
The tipping point came on October 11, when the elite CAPSAT military unit, long considered the backbone of Madagascar’s armed forces, joined the protesters. The move was seismic: CAPSAT had once helped Rajoelina seize power in a military-backed coup in 2009, but now turned against him. “We have taken the power,” Colonel Michael Randrianirina, CAPSAT’s leader, declared outside the ceremonial presidential palace, as thousands of jubilant protesters and soldiers celebrated together, according to Al Jazeera.
Randrianirina announced that the military would form a council composed of officers from the armed forces and gendarmerie—a military unit tasked with policing civilians. This council would appoint a prime minister and “quickly” form a civilian government. He further stated that the constitution and the High Constitutional Court’s powers were suspended, and that a referendum would be held in two years to establish a new constitution, followed by elections to set up new institutions. “The renovation period will last a maximum of two years. During this time, a referendum will be held to establish a new constitution, followed by elections to gradually set up the new institutions,” Randrianirina told reporters, according to Al Jazeera.
The military’s statement was sweeping: “The following institutions are suspended: the Senate, the High Constitutional Court, the Independent National Electoral Commission, the High Court of Justice, and the High Council for the Defense of Human Rights and the Rule of Law.” Only the lower house of parliament was left standing, as the military pledged to steer the country through a transitional period.
President Rajoelina, whose political career has been marked by both reformist promises and allegations of cronyism, tried to fight back even as events overtook him. From an undisclosed location, he issued a decree seeking to dissolve the lower house of parliament in a last-ditch effort to stave off impeachment. Lawmakers, however, ignored his order and voted overwhelmingly—130 to 0, with one blank ballot—to impeach him. Even members of his own party, Irmar, joined the call for his removal, as reported by the BBC.
Rajoelina denounced the military’s move as “a clear act of attempted coup d’etat,” insisting in a statement that “the president of the republic remains fully in office and ensures the maintenance of constitutional order and national stability.” His office condemned Randrianirina’s announcement as an “illegal declaration” and “a serious breach of the rule of law,” asserting, “The Republic of Madagascar cannot be taken hostage by force. The State remains standing.”
Yet, despite these declarations, Rajoelina’s grip on power evaporated almost overnight. He fled the country, reportedly boarding a French military aircraft, though French President Emmanuel Macron refused to confirm any direct involvement. In a Monday night speech broadcast on social media, Rajoelina said he had left for a “safe place” in fear for his life, citing “an attempt to seize power illegally and by force.” His whereabouts remained unknown as of October 14, according to the BBC and Al Jazeera.
The protests that led to this upheaval were remarkable not just for their scale, but for their youthful energy and determination. Inspired by Gen Z-led movements that had toppled governments in Nepal and Sri Lanka, the Malagasy protesters made clear they had no single leader and were united by a desire for real change. “We do not get a constant supply of electricity and water from the government,” protester Soavololona Faraniaina told the Associated Press. “If Madagascan children are studying in darkness, where will the future of this nation be? Where is the wealthy Madagascar that many countries envied?”
As the demonstrations grew, so did the risks. According to the United Nations, at least 22 people have been killed and more than 100 injured since protests began in late September. One CAPSAT soldier died in clashes with the gendarmerie on October 11, just before the military’s dramatic shift in allegiance. The government disputed these casualty figures, calling them “rumours and misinformation.” Police reportedly used tear gas to disperse crowds, and the situation in Antananarivo was tense, with both celebration and uncertainty in the air.
International reaction was swift and mixed. The African Union condemned military interference in politics, warning against “any attempt at unconstitutional changes of government.” France’s President Macron described the situation as “greatly worrying.” Meanwhile, the US State Department urged all sides “to pursue a peaceful solution in line with the constitutional order.”
Madagascar’s history is littered with coups and political instability since gaining independence from France in 1960. This latest episode is both a continuation of that troubled legacy and a reflection of the deep frustrations felt by the country’s youth. Despite its natural wealth and unique environment, Madagascar remains one of the world’s poorest nations, with only a third of its population having access to electricity and blackouts often lasting more than eight hours a day, according to Al Jazeera.
For now, the military holds the reins, promising a transition to civilian rule within two years and the drafting of a new constitution. Whether this pledge leads to a brighter future or more of the same remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the voices of Madagascar’s young people have shaken the foundations of power, and the world is watching closely as the country charts its uncertain next steps.