President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar, the island nation in Africa, took the drastic step on Monday of dissolving his government. This decision comes in the wake of several days of intense, youth-led protests that have tragically resulted in nearly two dozen deaths and left many more injured, according to the United Nations.
In a televised address to the nation, President Rajoelina openly acknowledged the widespread frustration among thousands of young people who have been demonstrating in the streets. Their anger stems from the government’s persistent failure to ensure reliable electricity and water supplies across the country.
“I truly understand the anger, the sadness, and the immense difficulties caused by these power cuts and water supply problems,” he stated. “I have heard their calls, felt their suffering, and grasped the profound impact these issues have on daily life.”
With this dissolution, Prime Minister Christian Ntsay and all cabinet ministers have been removed from their posts. They will, however, continue to serve on an interim basis until President Rajoelina appoints a new prime minister to lead the country forward.
The president announced an unusual approach to selecting new officials, indicating he would cast a wide net to find new officials to lead the country, even accepting applications via email and on LinkedIn.
It remains uncertain whether President Rajoelina’s decisive action will be enough to quell the widespread discontent. The protesters, many of whom are young, have drawn inspiration from similar Gen Z movements recently seen in Nepal and Kenya. An increasing number of voices in Madagascar are now openly demanding the president’s resignation.
Mr. Rajoelina’s political history includes coming to power through a coup in 2009. After losing the 2013 election, he successfully regained the presidency in both 2018 and 2023. His opponents widely boycotted the election two years ago, alleging that he manipulated the results by using state security forces to intimidate voters and by filling the national election commission with his loyalists.
The period leading up to that election was marked by violent clashes between security forces and citizens, a situation that raised serious concerns within the international community. President Rajoelina consistently denied any wrongdoing in response to these accusations.
The latest wave of unrest has attracted significant attention from the United Nations. On Monday, Volker Türk, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, released a statement expressing profound “shock at the violent response by security forces to the ongoing protests.” He confirmed that at least 22 individuals had been killed and over a hundred injured in the clashes.
“Authorities must uphold and ensure respect for freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” the U.N. statement urged.
However, officials in Madagascar have disputed the U.N.’s reported death toll, claiming the figures are based on unconfirmed rumors rather than official government data.
Since achieving independence from France in 1960, Madagascar, home to nearly 32 million people, has frequently grappled with political instability. The predominantly impoverished population has faced increasingly challenging circumstances in recent years, exacerbated by a series of severe weather-related events that have significantly hampered agricultural production, which is the cornerstone of the nation’s economy.
