Why Gen Z protests have forced the president to sack his government

Thousands of people in Madagascar moved to the streets in different parts of the country during the past week in the largest wave of protests in the Indian Ocean Island state more than 15 years ago.

What started as anger due to the lack of basic necessities Raising quickly to one of the most dangerous challenges In the face of President Andre Rogerina, who was in power, for the second time, since 2018. On Monday, in response, he sacked his government but did not weaken the demonstrators.

At least 22 people were killed and more than 100 others were injured in turmoil, according to the United Nations government, although the Malagasy government rejected these numbers and described it as “rumors and misleading information.”

The pressure began to build after the arrest on September 19 from two major politicians in the city, who planned a peaceful demonstration in the capital, Antananarivo, due to problems in providing chronic energy and providing water.

There was a daily interruption for hours of services managed by the state -owned facilities company.

Many saw that their detention is an attempt to silence the legitimate opposition that leads to public anger, with the issue taken by civil society groups and the formation of a movement on the Internet led by young people known as General Z Mada.

The protests have spread since then beyond Antananarivo, as eight other cities are swept through the island, without any signs of getting away.

It is waving banners, demonstrators condemned the power outages and accused the government of failing to ensure basic rights.

Activists also blame the widespread corruption inside the Energy Crisis Company.

Initially, General Z Mada was coordinating what was going on through social media such as Facebook and Tiktok. A committee was created to organize more demonstrations after a meeting between General Z Mada, civil society groups and local politicians.

Other groups participated as soon as the protests began. Several trade unions, including the largest union solidarity at Malagasy, threw its weight behind the youth -led movement.

Civil society organizations called for the church -led talks to “prevent Madagascar from drowning in chaos or civil war.”

Opposition leader Cetini Randriasallonico and former President Mark Rafaanana expressed their support for the protests in a rare joint statement on Wednesday.

The two rejected the offers to join the government of Rajina, saying that this step will be a “betrayal” of the people of Malagia.

The demonstrators did not issue a statement, but what started with the anger of public services has evolved into broader demands for political change.

Many young people, who face unsafe jobs and poor wages, have called for the resignation of the president, and to blame him for the problems they face.

On Wednesday, the demonstrators were seen in the capital, waving flags and banners with the words “Rajoelina Out”.

A spokesman for General Z Mada told the news agency to Agence France Presse that they wanted the president to step down and “clean the National Assembly.”

They also want our legs to bear the responsibility of those who were killed by the security forces.

Some social media users also called for the dissolution of the election committee and the highest court in the country.

The security forces maintained a heavy presence throughout Antananarivo and other major cities, as the police use tear gas and water cannon to disperse the demonstrators.

A curfew in the capital in the capital was imposed after reports on violence and looting, including the torch of the Ministry of Finance offices.

When Rajoelina dismissed his government, some of his ministers accused of failing to do their work properly.

The President called for calm and promised that the World Bank would fund efforts to address frequent power outages.

He also pledged to support companies affected by looting and called for dialogue with young people.

But his movement failed to reduce the general anger, which the campaign intensified on the demonstrators.

Schools were closed throughout the capital and nearby areas last week, for fear of escalating violence.

The authorities reserve that the gatherings that do not have an official license are risks to public order.

Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world, with 75 % of people live below the poverty line, according to the World Bank.

Only about a third of the 30 million people in Madagascar have access to electricity, according to the International Monetary Fund.

One of the demonstrators told AFP that “the living conditions of the Malagasy people deteriorate and get worse every day.”

“The demonstrations risk continuing and intensifying if the authorities rely on force to suppress the opposition rather than setting the priorities of accountability.”

She said, “The result risks political fragmentation, the strongest national discourse against the perceived external interference, and possible economic repercussions.”

But in the imposition of the curfew and the rejection of the reports of the United Nations injuries, the government can indicate that it may double the oppression rather than a settlement.

Analysts say control of government media and major institutions can allow Rajoelina to outperform the immediate wave of the opposition.

Governance experts say the critical turning point is whether the army rejects orders to eliminate demonstrators.

“We do not want a coup, because the coup destroys a nation, because the coup destroys the future of our children,” said president, Lova Rannoromaro, on social media.

Madagascar has been shook through multiple uprisings since it gained independence in 1960, including mass protests in 2009 that forced former President Rafaanana to step down and saw our legs reaching power for the first time.

Rajoelina was voted again to his position in 2018 and was re -elected in 2023 in the disputed opinion polls by the opposition.