Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has dissolved his government after days of nationwide protests driven largely by young people frustrated with chronic water shortages and power cuts.
Speaking in a televised address, Rajoelina admitted that the government had failed to deliver on basic services. “We acknowledge and apologise if members of the government have not carried out the tasks assigned to them,” he said, confirming that the prime minister and cabinet had been dismissed. A new government is expected to be formed in the coming days.
The demonstrations, branded as “Gen Z protests,” began in the capital Antananarivo before spreading to at least eight other cities. Protesters marched with slogans declaring, “We want to live, not survive.”
Clashes between demonstrators and security forces have turned deadly. The UN reported more than 20 deaths and over 100 injuries, accusing security forces of using rubber bullets, tear gas, and even live ammunition. Madagascar’s government disputes those figures, calling them exaggerated.
A dusk-to-dawn curfew has been imposed in the capital, but young people continue to rally, demanding accountability and long-term solutions. Rajoelina has promised dialogue with the youth, hoping to calm tensions that represent the biggest challenge to his presidency since his re-election in 2023.