Sweet / EPA
Madagascar soldiers operate during an anti-government protest in Antananarivo
President warns of “illegal and forced attempt to take power” after soldiers refused orders to fire on the people. 22 people have already died in the protests. Generation Z returns to the forefront of demands for political change.
The Malagasy President, Andry Rajoelina, declared this Sunday that a “illegal and forced attempt to take power”a day after a contingent of soldiers gathered alongside thousands of anti-government protesters in the capital, Antananarivo.
On Saturday, Malagasy soldiers joined thousands of protesters on the streets of Antananarivo, calling on security forces to “refuse orders to fire” on the population and condemning the recent police repression.
Before abandoning their military base in the district of Soanierana, on the outskirts of Antananarivo, soldiers from the Capsat (Army Corps of Personnel and Administrative and Technical Services) called for disobedience. In 2009, this same base had already led a rebellion during the popular uprising that brought the current President to power.
Saturday’s demonstration in Antananarivo was one of the largest since the protests began on September 25, triggered by the generation Z movement (young people born between 1997 and 2012), in protest against the water and electricity cuts, which evolved into a widespread criticism of political leaders in power, starting with President Rajoelina.
The soldiers faced elements of thegendarmerie‘ in front of a barracks and entered the city aboard military vehicles to join the protesters in the symbolic Praça 13 de Maio, in front of the Antananarivo City Council, where they were received with applause and calls for Rajoelina’s resignation.
On Saturday night, the new Prime Minister, Ruphin Zafisambo, assured that the Government, “which stands firmly”, is “ready to collaborate and listen to all forces: young people, the unions and the army”.
“Madagascar will not be able to resist new crises if this division among citizens persists,” added General Zafisambo in a brief recorded speech.
For its part, the Presidency released a statement guaranteeing that Rajoelina “remains in the country” and “continues to manage national affairs”.
According to a United Nations report, at least 22 people were killed since the beginning of the demonstrations and more than a hundred were injured. President Rajoelina denied these “wrong numbers” on Wednesday, estimating the “loss of life” at 12all “of looters, of vandals”, as he stated.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, on Friday called on Madagascar authorities to “cease the use of unnecessary force” in the protests, which have already caused several deaths.
Despite the natural riches, Madagascar remains one of the poorest countries in the world e almost 75% of the population lived below the poverty line in 2022, according to the World Bank.
Saturday’s protest was one of the largest since the demonstrations began on September 25, when the Generation Z movement, led by young people, took to the streets due to chronic water and power cuts. The unrest escalated into a demand for political change.
The same has happened in other countries, which have also been the scene of protests orchestrated by generation Z, as ZAP has reported.
No Nepalafter the death of 72 people on the streets at the hands of security forces in September, the government fell under accusations of corruption and the group Hami Nepal, linked to Generation Z and responsible for the protests, decided to choose an interim prime minister through a vote on the social network Discord — and .
In Morocco, the non-partisan youth group “Genz 212” has taken to the streets to demand health and education. It all started, too, on Discord, through a group of “free young people” with no political affiliation.
