Protesters once again took to the streets of Madagascar’s cities on Monday, marking a third consecutive week of anti-government demonstrations now calling for President Andry Rajoelina to step down.
Police in the capital, Antananarivo, used teargas to disperse the crowds, according to a Reuters reporter. Many of the demonstrators were university students who had initially mobilised last month over frequent power and water cuts but have since voiced broader frustrations with the government.
Inspired by “Gen Z” protest movements in Kenya and Nepal, the rallies represent the largest wave of unrest on the Indian Ocean island in recent years, expressing anger over deep poverty and entrenched corruption. Malagasy television broadcast footage on Monday showing police confronting protesters in the southern city of Toliara and the northern city of Diego Suarez.
Despite its rich mineral resources, biodiversity and farmland, Madagascar remains one of the world’s poorest nations. Average income per person has fallen by 45% since independence in 1960.
Although Rajoelina dismissed his cabinet last week, many protesters are demanding that the 51-year-old president himself resign.
According to the United Nations, at least 22 people were killed and more than 100 injured during the initial days of unrest — figures the government disputes.
In a speech on Friday, Rajoelina said he was prepared to listen to the demonstrators’ concerns but ignored calls for his resignation.
A spokesperson for his office told Reuters over the weekend that the movement was being “exploited by political actors seeking to destabilise the country,” adding that “President Rajoelina remains committed to dialogue and to accelerating solutions that improve people’s daily lives.”
In a separate statement on Monday, the presidency said the president had met with several civil society organisations on Saturday but offered no further details. Other groups said they had declined to attend, citing the lack of guarantees that protests could continue peacefully and that detained demonstrators would be freed.
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