President of Madagascar Refuses to Resign Amidst Youth Protests

Author: Vera Rousseff

October 7, 2025

HRRC stands with the people of Madagascar as they demand systemic reform from their government. We condemn the violent response of the country’s police toward the protesters and, with the support of the international community, urge the government to respond to the demands of the protest leaders.

Young people protest on the streets of Madagascar. [Image credit: Mamyrael/AP Photo]

For more than a week, young people have been protesting in the streets of Madagascar in a massive show of anti-government sentiment. What began as demonstrations over power and water shortages has evolved into the largest protest the country has seen in more than 15 years, with demonstrators calling for the resignation of Madagascan President Andry Rajoelina.

Tension began to build in the country after two leading politicians were arrested on September 19. They had planned a peaceful demonstration in the capital, Antananarivo, to protest the frequent power and water supply problems troubling much of the country. Under Madagascar’s state-owned utility company, Jirama, citizens have faced hours-long daily service outages, leading to widespread frustration largely directed toward the government. Many viewed the arrests of the politicians as an attempt by the current administration to silence dissent—a sentiment that led to the creation of the youth-led movement Gen Z Mada.

Under the online coordination of Gen Z Mada, protests quickly erupted in major cities across the country, with other civil society groups joining in. Besides accusing the power company of widespread corruption, protesters have also highlighted the need for systemic reform in the country. Although it has a wealth of natural resources, Madagascar faces serious economic challenges, with 75% of its population living below the poverty line as of 2022.

In response to the protests, President Rajoelina dissolved the government last week, having already fired the energy minister several days prior. However, he has so far ignored the demands for his resignation, instead accusing his rivals of planning to take advantage of the protests in order to stage a coup. He provided no evidence to support his claim, and protesters have dismissed the argument as “senseless.” They have given the president a 24-hour ultimatum to “respond favorably” to their demands, promising to take “all necessary measures” if he fails to do so.

Madagascar’s police have responded to the protests with unnecessary force, drawing concern from the international community. Security forces have reportedly used tear gas, beaten and arrested protesters, and even used live ammunition. So far, 22 people have been killed during the demonstrations, and more than a hundred have been injured. The deaths and injuries are the result of violent actions taken by the security forces as well as widespread violence and looting that occurred in the wake of the protests. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said in a statement last week: “I urge the authorities to ensure respect for freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, consistent with their obligations under international human rights law.”

The protests in Madagascar are the latest manifestation of an international movement of Gen Z taking to the streets to demand change from their governments. In addition to Madagascar, youth-led protests have recently erupted in Morocco and Peru, inspired in large part by last month’s Gen Z protest in Nepal. Other countries experiencing youth movements in the past couple of years include Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Kenya.

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Glossary

• Administration: the group of people who manage or run a government.

• Anti-government sentiment: feelings of anger or opposition toward the people in power.

• Civil society groups: non-government organizations, such as charities or activist groups, that work to improve communities or promote causes.

• Condemn: to strongly criticize something as wrong or unfair.

• Coup: a sudden and illegal attempt by a small group to take control of the government.

• Dissent: disagreement or protest against those in power.

• Gen Z: the generation of people born roughly between the mid-1990s and early 2010s.

• Live ammunition: real bullets or explosive shells that can cause injury or death when fired, as opposed to blank or rubber rounds used for training or crowd control.

• Looting: stealing things, usually during chaos like riots or natural disasters.

• Peaceful assembly: the right to gather in groups for meetings or protests without violence.

• Poverty line: the minimum level of income people need to afford basic necessities like food and shelter.

• Security forces: police, soldiers, or other officials responsible for maintaining public order.

• Senseless: without good reason; illogical or foolish.

• Systemic reform: major changes that affect the entire system (like the government or economy), not just one part.

• Ultimatum: a final demand that says something must be done or there will be consequences.

• UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (Volker Türk): a United Nations official responsible for promoting and protecting human rights worldwide.