ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — The streets of Madagascar’s northern city of Antsiranana filled with chants and banners on Thursday, as thousands of mostly young protesters demanded the resignation of President Andry Rajoelina.
After more than a week of rallies against mismanagement, power cuts and corruption, anger is spreading far beyond the capital. Demonstrators carried signs reading “Miala Rajoelina” — “Rajoelina, step down” — and accused the 51-year-old president of betraying their future.
In the coastal town of Toliara, protesters staged a mock funeral, parading a symbolic coffin for the embattled leader. Unrest also reached Mahajanga in the north and Sambava, the world’s vanilla capital, underscoring how far the movement has travelled.
The protests are led largely by Generation Z activists, who announced a “strategic 24-hour pause” in Antananarivo to rest and regroup. “We are just young people ready to change the history of Madagascar,” one member said in a Facebook video. Another added: “We no longer deserve the Mada of today. We have a fight to lead — a fight for our future.”
Deadly Crackdown
The demonstrations began on 25 September and intensified after a violent crackdown. The United Nations says at least 22 people have been killed and hundreds injured. The government disputes those figures.
Amnesty International accused security forces of using “unlawful and excessive force” and urged authorities to investigate. “Every death on the streets of Madagascar is a painful reminder that the right to peaceful protest is under violent attack,” the rights group said.
On Monday, Mr. Rajoelina dismissed his government in an attempt to ease tensions. A new prime minister has yet to be named.
Pressure Builds at Home and Abroad
Six embassies — including France, Germany, Japan and Britain — along with the European Union delegation, appealed for dialogue. “We reaffirm our commitment to the rule of law and universal rights such as freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” they said in a joint statement.
At home, more than 200 civil society groups have demanded an end to repression. Opposition leaders, including former president Marc Ravalomanana, have also thrown their weight behind the youth-led movement. Even Pope Leo XIV expressed concern, saying he was “saddened by the news coming from Madagascar.”
A Fragile Democracy
Mr. Rajoelina first rose to power in 2009 after a coup that ousted Mr. Ravalomanana. He returned through elections in 2018 and won again in 2023, though the opposition boycotted the vote.
Despite rich natural resources, Madagascar remains one of the world’s poorest nations. Nearly three-quarters of its 32 million people live below the poverty line, according to the World Bank. Corruption is endemic, with the country ranking 140th out of 180 in Transparency International’s index.
For now, the protests show no sign of stopping. As one young demonstrator said simply: “We are standing for our country
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