Young Protesters in Madagascar Renew Demands for Water and Electricity

Police in Madagascar’s capital fired tear gas on Monday at thousands of demonstrators who returned to the streets for a third round of youth-led protests against persistent water and electricity outages. Many in the crowd also demanded the government’s resignation.

Inspired by recent so-called “Gen Z” movements in Kenya and Nepal, these demonstrations have become the largest seen in the Indian Ocean nation in years and pose the most serious challenge to President Andry Rajoelina since his re-election in 2023.

Authorities imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew last Thursday after protests in Antananarivo turned violent.

Footage from the news channel 2424.MG showed protesters gathering at a university in the capital on Monday, waving placards and singing the national anthem before attempting to march through the city.

Real TV broadcast images from another part of the city where police dismantled roadblocks made of stones and telephone poles and fired tear gas to disperse crowds.

Chants from demonstrators called for the resignations of Prime Minister Christian Ntsay, his government, and President Rajoelina himself.

The latest protests followed Rajoelina’s announcement on Sunday that he would undertake a sweeping review of governance and reforms across the country.

“If mistakes have been made, I acknowledge them, and I am now looking for ways to put things right,” he said during a speech in Antananarivo’s Anosibe district, where incidents of looting and vandalism had occurred on Friday.

Demonstrators have adopted the same flag used by protesters in Nepal, where the prime minister was forced to resign earlier this month. They have also embraced online organizing tactics similar to last year’s protests in Kenya, which ultimately led the government to withdraw a proposed tax law.