Description: Malagasy citizens took to the streets for a fifth consecutive day of protests against the country’s President Andry Rajoelina and the general living conditions in the country which have been flagrantly unbearable. Protests erupted last week, with citizen movements forming in the capital Antananarivo and spread across smaller cities such as Toliara on 01 Oct. President Rajoelina previously dissolved the government and in a public address to the nation, he apologized to his citizens and once again promised change. His public speech failed to assuage the Malagasies as the protests turned even more violent with police forces increasing in numbers to subvert civil unrest and the destruction of public and private property. The leader from the oppositional alliance Firaisankina, Rivo Rakotovao has expressed support to the protesters and stated that other political parties would not agree towards a potential coalition in order to form a new government with the incumbent President Rajoelina. The UN claimed that more than 22 people have died while up to one hundred were injured in the five days of protesting.
Impact: The government’s reluctance to dedicate resources and adopt immediate crisis measures towards resolving elementary issues such as water and electricity supplies has caused an unprecedented level of civil upheaval in Madagascar. President Rajoelina unlike other politicians facing the consequences from Gen Z civil movements, decided to sacrifice the government in order to remain in power and exploit the government’s dissolution as a political counter measure which threatens to plunge the country into a prolonged political, economic and civil crisis. The intensification of the protests is predominantly due to the desperate economic conditions and the absence of elementary living conditions such as water and electricity supply, which further inspires civil unrest and the enlargement of the oppositional pressure towards the country’s President. Madagascar is currently facing a Nepali scenario of revolution, where the entire government was dissolved and an interim leadership has been appointed awaiting early elections. President Rajoelina has been in power on and off for more than 15 years and has expired on all political fronts. The protests will continue until he resigns, and a new interim government is appointed.