President Andry Rajoelina’s call for national dialogue fell flat on Wednesday (8 Oct) as thousands of protesters,led by Madagascar’s Gen Z movement,boycotted the talks and vowed to escalate demonstrations unless demands are met.
More than 1,500 representatives from civil society — including church leaders,academics,unions,and entrepreneurs — attended the presidential palace meeting. But the key youth-led opposition,which has driven nearly two weeks of unrest,refused the invitation,calling the process “a mockery of dialogue” and accusing the government of repression. Protests,which erupted on 25 September over water and electricity shortages,have morphed into broader anti-government demands. Demonstrators now call for the resignation of President Rajoelina,the dismissal of Senate President Richard Ravalomanana,and investigations into high-profile corruption.
Rajoelina,seeking to ease tensions,swore “before God” he would resign if power outages persist in Antananarivo within a year. He touted projects including a new 105MW thermal plant and solar energy initiatives to end the crisis. However,his recent appointment of an army general as prime minister further angered opposition voices,who view it as a militarization of civilian rule. The UN reports at least 22 deaths and over 100 injuries in the protests — figures the government disputes. With Gen Z activists threatening a nationwide strike and junior doctors launching walkouts,Rajoelina’s administration faces its deepest legitimacy crisis since his re-election in 2023. The coming days may prove decisive for Madagascar’s political stability.
United News - unews.co.za