Protests in Madagascar

Andry Rajoelina is a Malagasy-French politician and businessman who has been serving as the President of Madagascar since 2019. He previously led a provisional government from 2009 to 2014 following a political crisis and a military-backed coup. He started his political career as the Mayor of Antananarivo in 2007. Rajoelina led opposition movements against then-President Marc Ravalomanana, which eventually led to his appointment as President of the High Transitional Authority of Madagascar in 2009. He was the youngest head of state in the world at that time. After stepping down in 2014, he won the 2018 presidential election and took office again in January 2019. His presidency has dealt with challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and food insecurity. Recently, in September 2025, he dissolved the Malagasy government following youth-led protests over water and power shortages. Since September 25, 2025, Madagascar has been experiencing massive protests, primarily in the capital, Antananarivo, but also spreading to other cities such as Toamasina, Antsirabe, Toliara, and Antsiranana. The protests, known as "Leo Délestage" (English: "Enough of the Power Outages"), were triggered by persistent water and power outages, often lasting more than 12 hours. These supply shortages have fueled popular anger, especially among young people, over widespread poverty and the government of President Andry Rajoelina, who has played a central role in the country's politics since 2009 and was re-elected in a disputed election in 2023. The protests began peacefully but quickly escalated as security forces used tear gas, rubber bullets, and, in some cases, live ammunition against the demonstrators. Looting, arson, and attacks on public facilities such as cable car stations and on the homes of politicians close to the government occurred. According to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, at least 22 people were killed, including protesters, bystanders, and victims of looting by criminal groups. Over 100 people were injured. Türk criticized the disproportionate actions of the security forces and called for independent investigations. The government imposed a nighttime curfew from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. in Antananarivo to contain the unrest. On September 26, President Rajoelina dismissed the energy minister, and on September 29, he announced the dissolution of the government, which will remain in office in a caretaker capacity until a new one is formed. The protests were organized via social media, inspired by similar youth movements in Nepal and Kenya. Demonstrators are demanding not only better services but, in some cases, Rajoelina's resignation. Due to the unrest, countries such as Belgium and the Netherlands have tightened their travel advisories and advise against non-essential travel to Madagascar. There are reports of disrupted air traffic, and tour groups, including Dutch tourists, have had difficulty leaving the country. The situation remains tense, and the protests are directed not only against the supply crisis, but also against general poverty – about 75% of Madagascar's population lives below the poverty line – and what is perceived as ineffective government leadership. President Rajoelina announced the dissolution of his government following mass protests against water and power outages, which, according to the UN, left at least 22 people dead and over 100 injured. The demonstrations, inspired by the "Gen Z" movements in Kenya and Nepal, lasted three days and represent the largest unrest in the island nation in years. They represent Rajoelina's biggest challenge since his re-election in 2023. represents. @https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20250926-deadly-protests-erupt-in-madagascar-over-chronic-blackouts-and-water-cuts @https://orf.at/stories/3406928/ @https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/09/madagascar-un-human-rights-chief-shocked-violent-response-electricit y-and @https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andry_Rajoelina @https://www.britannica.com/biography/Andry-Rajoelina @https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y5j98p4pjo @https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/29/madagascar-president-dissolves-government-after-youth-led-deadly-protests