Madagascar Protests Escalate as Police Use Tear Gas Against Demonstrators

Antananarivo, Madagascar – the capital’s police used tear gas on thousands of people who again took to the streets in the third round of protests led by the youth against water and electricity outages; many are calling for the government to resign.

Inspired by Gen Z protests in Kenya and Nepal, these demonstrations have become the largest in years on the island and the most serious challenge to President Andry Rajoelina since his re-election in 2023.

Authorities on Thursday imposed a curfew from dusk until dawn after protests in Antananarivo escalated into rioting.

Timeline of events and government response

On Monday, protesters gathered near the University of Antananarivo, raised banners, and sang the national anthem before attempting a march across the city; footage from local television channels captured the moment.

In another part of the city, police removed stones and telephone poles that protesters had used to block roads, and used tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Many participants demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Christian Ntsay, his government, and President Rajoelina himself.

The latest protests followed Sunday’s remarks by Rajoelina that he would thoroughly review and reform the country’s governance.

If there were mistakes, I will acknowledge them, and I am now seeking ways to fix everything.

Protesters also used the Nepalese flag and employed similar online organizational tactics as in previous actions in the region, which previously led to the ousting of leaders in related countries.

These events highlight growing dissatisfaction with water and power supply issues and pose serious challenges for the new government, which must work to stabilize essential services, restore public trust, and engage in dialogue with civil society.