Thousands of people in Madagascar have taken to the streets in different parts of the country for the past week in the largest wave of protests the Indian Ocean island nation has witnessed in more than 15 years.
What began as anger over shortages of basic necessities has rapidly escalated into one of the most serious challenges facing President Andry Rajoelina, who has been in power, for the second time, since 2018. On Monday, in response, he sacked his government but that did not placate the protesters.
At least 22 people have been killed and more than 100 others injured in the unrest, according to the UN, although the Malagasy government has dismissed those figures and described them as based on rumours and misinformation.
What sparked the protests?
Pressure started to build following the arrest on 19 September of two leading city politicians, who had planned a peaceful demonstration in the capital, Antananarivo, over chronic power and water supply problems. There have been hours-long daily outages of the services run by state-owned utility company Jirama.
Many saw their detention as an attempt to silence legitimate dissent leading to public outrage, with the cause taken up by civil society groups and the formation of a youth-led online movement known as Gen Z Mada.
The protests have since spread beyond Antananarivo, gripping eight other cities across the island, with no signs of subsiding. Waving banners, protesters have denounced the blackouts and accused the government of failing to guarantee basic rights.
Who is demonstrating?
Initially, Gen Z Mada was co-ordinating what was going on through social media sites such as Facebook and TikTok. A committee was created to organise further demonstrations following a meeting between Gen Z Mada, civil society groups, and local politicians.
Other groups got involved once the protests started. Several labour unions, among them the country's largest, the Malagasy Trade Union Solidarity, have thrown their weight behind the youth-led movement.
What do the protesters want?
The demonstrators have not issued a manifesto but what started with anger over public services has evolved into broader demands for political change. Many young people, facing insecure and poorly paid jobs, have called for the president's resignation, blaming him for the problems they are facing.
What is the government's response?
Security forces have maintained a heavy presence across Antananarivo and other major cities, with police using tear gas and water cannon to disperse the protesters. Rajoelina sacked his government, accusing ministers of failing their jobs properly, and called for calm, while promising that the World Bank would fund efforts to address the frequent power outages.
What is life like in Madagascar?
Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world, with 75% of people living below the poverty line, according to the World Bank. Only about one-third of Madagascar's 30 million people have access to electricity, according to the International Monetary Fund.
Is the president under threat?
Political scientists have voiced concerns that the demonstrations could intensify if authorities rely on force rather than accountability to suppress dissent. The stability of Rajoelina's government may depend on whether the military will support a crackdown or refrain from acting against the demonstrators.
