Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has appointed an army general as his new prime minister, in what appears to be a last-ditch attempt to quell the youth-led demonstrations that have shaken his government for nearly two weeks.
In a late-night address from the presidential palace on Monday, Rajoelina announced the appointment of Divisional General Ruphin Fortunat Dimbisoa Zafisambo, promising a “clean, fast-working” administration ready to “save Madagascar.”
But on the streets of Antananarivo, the capital, anger shows no sign of cooling. Hundreds of young protesters — many mobilized through social media — once again marched toward the city center, only to be met by barricades and clouds of tear gas. At least one person was injured, according to eyewitnesses from AFP.
The demonstrations, which began on September 25, were sparked by crippling power and water shortages but have grown into a direct call for Rajoelina’s resignation. Protesters accuse him of ignoring the plight of ordinary citizens in a country where nearly three-quarters of the population lives below the poverty line.
“There are about 120 hours of power cuts per week where I live,” said 21-year-old protester Tommy Fanomezantsoa. “The president doesn’t listen to people at the bottom.”
The unrest has left at least 22 people dead and more than 100 injured, according to the United Nations, which has condemned the use of live ammunition by security forces. Authorities deny those figures.
The protests have deep roots in Madagascar’s turbulent political past. The Ankatso district, where the marches began, was also the cradle of the 1972 uprising that toppled the island’s first president.
Now, the youth movement behind the protests — calling itself Gen Z — has given Rajoelina a 48-hour ultimatum to step down. “As long as he remains in power, we will continue to fight,” the group said in a statement.
The Christian Council of Churches of Madagascar (FFKM) has offered to mediate between the government and demonstrators.
For many, the general’s appointment feels cosmetic. “We don’t want more speeches,” Fanomezantsoa said. “We want results — or we’ll stay in the streets.”
