Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina, who first came to power in a 2009 coup, has condemned youth-led protests calling for his resignation, alleging that demonstrators are trying to trigger another coup and are funded by unspecified foreign governments and organisations.
The protests, which began on 25 September, were initially driven by outrage over water and power cuts but have grown into demands for action against corruption and reform of the political system. At least 22 people have been killed by security forces, according to the UN, a figure officials deny. On Monday, Rajoelina dismissed the prime minister and dissolved the government, but the Gen Z Madagascar movement has called for more protests, demanding the resignation of the president, constitutional court judges, election commission members and parliamentary leaders.
In a live Facebook video, Rajoelina said: “Countries and agencies paid for this movement to get me out, not through elections, but for profit to take power like other African countries.” He did not specify who he was accusing or provide evidence. The president, who was installed by the military after leading mass protests, added: “Criticism of existing problems does not necessarily have to be expressed in the streets; it should be done through dialogue.”
Gen Z protesters rejected the president's speech. An 18-year-old activist said: “He said we weren’t real people, that we were robots, accusing us of a cyber-attack on him and mass manipulation … It was very disrespectful actually.” He warned that continued violence by security forces could trigger more aggression from protesters.
Madagascar is one of the world's poorest countries despite abundant natural resources. The World Bank reports that between independence in 1960 and 2020, income per capita fell 45% in real terms, blaming an unaccountable elite and lack of competition. Rajoelina initially spent five years in power before stepping down in 2014, then won the 2018 election and secured a third term in December 2023 in a poll opponents say was marred by irregularities.
