Madagascar President fires PM & dissolves government following deadly Gen-Z protests

Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina fired the prime minister and dissolved his government on Sep. 29 in response to violent Gen-Z protests.

The Associated Press (AP) reported that youths were protesting the failure of electricity and water supplies.

New government to be formed

Following the government being dissolved, a new government will be formed, said Rajoelina.

According to AP, Rajoelina said in a speech on national television that Prime Minister Christian Ntsay and other government officials would stay on an interim basis until then.

Rajoelina called for applications for government positions. He also gave three days to review proposals for a new prime minister.

He said: "Your demands have been heard, and I apologise if there are members of the government who have not done the work that the people expected."

The protesters had called for the resignation of both Ntsay and Rajoelina. However, Rajoelina has not indicated that he would step down.

Deadly protests

The protests, which reportedly began on Sep. 25, saw protestors barricading roads with burning tyres and rocks, AP reported.

Protestors also allegedly set several stations of the country's new cable car system on fire. There were also reports of looting.

According to AP, the country's local media reported that three homes of politicians supposedly close to President Nirina Rajoelina were also attacked by protesters.

Police Chief Angelo Ravelonarivo announced that a nighttime curfew from 7pm on Sep. 25 to 5am on Sep. 26 would be strictly imposed until the situation could be resolved.

Protestors of the Indian Ocean Island were angry because of persistent power cuts that left their homes and businesses without electricity for hours.

Al Jazeera reported that the protests which continued to Sep. 29, reflect young people's anger over deteriorating living conditions in Madagascar's capital, Antananarivo.

Shock at violence

According to Al Jazeera, the authorities' response was reportedly also just as violent.

Police supposedly dispersed the demonstrators with tear gas.

In addition, security forces allegedly used rubber bullets in an attempt to contain the protests.

The United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed shock at security forces' violent response to the ongoing protests in Madagascar, according to a UN press release on Sep. 29.

The UN report added that the protests saw at least 22 people killed and more than 100 people injured.

According to the press release, the victims include protesters and bystanders killed by members of the security forces.

Others were also killed in subsequent widespread violence and looting by individuals and gangs who were not associated with the protesters.

Türk said: "I am shocked and saddened by the killings and injuries in the protests over water and power cuts in Madagascar."

He added: "I urge the authorities to ensure respect for freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, consistent with their obligations under international human rights law."

Unnecessary force

The UN press release said the security forces intervened in the peaceful protests with unnecessary force, teargas as well as beating and arresting protesters.

The report added that some officers also used live ammunition.

More demonstrations soon broke out in another eight major cities across the country.

Türk urged the security forces to cease unnecessary and disproportionate force and to immediately release all arbitrarily detained protesters.

"International human rights law is particularly strict on the use of firearms," he said.

"They can only be used by law enforcement officers when strictly necessary to protect life or prevent serious injury from an imminent threat."

The UN Human Rights Chief also urged the Malagasy authorities to carry out prompt, thorough, independent and transparent investigations into the violence and to bring to justice those responsible.

Government disagrees with UN

AP reported that in response to the UN, Madagascar's Foreign Minister Rasata Rafaravavitafika disputed the UN's death toll in a statement

The statement said “the government strongly denies” that 22 people had died.

However, the Madagascar authorities have not given any figures of their own to account for how many people died or were injured.

Rajoelina said that he sympathised with anyone who had lost a loved one in the protests, but also didn’t offer a death toll, according to AP.

Background

According to World Bank Group's website, Rajoelina was re-elected President of Madagascar in December 2023 after winning the first round of elections on Nov. 16, 2023.

The website added that Madagascar, which is the world's fifth-largest island, has considerable natural resources.

However, the country, which Worldometer estimates to have a population of over 32 million people, had a poverty rate of around 80 per cent in 2024.

Top photos via @theinformant_x/X