Crisis in Madagascar: Clashes Over Water and Energy Shortages Led to Political Turmoil.
- the Observatory for Human Rights
- Oct 15
- 2 min read
Recent water and electricity shortages have sparked massive protests in Madagascar’s main cities. The prime minister and the rest of the government were dismissed, and the president reportedly fled the country consequently to Gen Z-led demonstrations.
According to the United Nations (UN), since 25 September 2025 at least 22 people have been killed by national security forces amid fights with protesters. Reporters stated that police used grenades, tear gas, and live ammunition as an attempt to stop demonstrations. Witnesses stated that several people were injured after clashes on 12 October. In response to the excessive brutality, soldiers refused orders to shoot on the crowd.
The situation immediately escalated into political instability. On 29 September, President Andry Rajaoelina dismissed the government, stating that “Your demands have been heard, and I apologize if there are members of the government who have not done the work that the people expected”. From their side, the former government, represented by Foreign Minister Rasata Rafaravavitafika, contested the UN’s death toll. Continued protests in the following two weeks, combined with the army’s lack of support, allegedly led president Rajoelina to leave Madagascar on 12 October after reaching a deal with France. Two days later, the former issued a decree through the social media platform Facebook, announcing the dissolution of the National Assembly prior to an impeachment vote.
Since gaining independence in 1960, Madagascar has experienced frequent uprisings on different issues, including corruption and apparent boycotted polls. As one of the world’s poorest nations, the population has been affected by poverty and insecurity. According to the World Bank, poverty in urban areas has increased in recent years. One demonstrator said his monthly salary of 67 dollars was not enough to cover basic expenses.Thousands of citizens took the streets of the capital, Antananarivo, to denounce authorities’ inability to provide them with reliable access to water and electricity, and to protest against widespread poverty all over the country.
Influenced by recent anti-government protests in Nepal, Indonesia, and Kenya, young Malagasy carried flags by the Japanese Anime “One Piece”, which is now considered a symbol of freedom. Some placards read “water and electricity are basic human rights”, and encouraged others to join the demonstrations to “bring justice to Madagascar”.
The UN firmly condemned the violence occurred. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said he was shocked “at the violent response by security forces to the ongoing protests in Madagascar”, adding that “security forces intervened with unnecessary force”. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, head of the African Union Commission, also urged moderation and dialogue to resolve the crisis.
Official Sources:
Al Jazeera (2025) Madagascar president dissolves parliament after fleeing army-backed protest https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/14/madagascar-president-dissolves-parliament-after-fleeing-army-backed-protest
AP News (2025) Madagascar’s president fires the government following days of deadly Gen Z protests https://apnews.com/article/madagascar-deadly-unrest-22-killed-un-6d7fdc429b089938b97ea044a65b4466
CNN World (2025) Madagascar president warned of attempted coup after soldiers joined protests https://edition.cnn.com/2025/10/12/africa/madagascar-protests-soldiers-attempted-coup-intl
Le Monde (2025) Madagascar soldiers join youth-led demonstrations https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/10/11/madagascar-soldiers-join-youth-led-demonstrations_6746331_4.html#
Reuters (2025) Madagascar’s president has left the country on French military plane - French Radio RFI https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/madagascar-president-rajoelina-address-nation-monday-evening-2025-10-13/
written by Ludovica Muncibì
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