Madagascar is in the throes of political upheaval. What began as widespread protests over water cuts, power outages, corruption and economic hardship has escalated into a full‑blown coup. President Andry Rajoelina has been impeached, a key military unit (CAPSAT) has seized power, and Colonel Michael Randrianirina is set to be sworn in as interim president. The African Union has suspended Madagascar and called for a return to constitutional order. The world is watching closely.
On September 25, 2025, thousands of young people in Antananarivo took to the streets to protest frequent electricity and water shortages. The movement, dubbed “Gen Z Madagascar,” rapidly grew in scale and intensity. Demonstrators carried signs demanding basic public services, and decrying corruption and government mismanagement. Some local accounts say electricity was cut off for 6‑12 hours daily; water supply had been erratic.
The protests turned deadly. According to the United Nations, at least 22 people have died and over 100 have been injured in clashes with security forces. Tear gas and rubber bullets were used. Looting and vandalism broke out in some areas.
Facing mounting pressure, President Rajoelina sacked his government at the end of September, announcing the dissolution of the cabinet and dismissing Prime Minister Christian Ntsay. He apologized, saying that demands had been heard, but this move failed to pacify protesters.
Then came a sudden escalation: CAPSAT, an elite military unit that had initially helped Rajoelina rise to power in 2009, turned against him. CAPSAT joined the protesters, refused orders to suppress them, and eventually seized control of state institutions. Parliament impeached Rajoelina. He fled the country and now contests the legitimacy of the coup.
Colonel Michael Randrianirina is now set to become interim president. A transitional government is expected to govern for 18‑24 months before new elections. The African Union has suspended Madagascar. Several governments, including those of France, South Africa, and others, have urged for a return to democratic governance.
In Madagascar:
– The protests have been led predominantly by youth, disillusioned with everyday failures of governance: lack of water, electricity, jobs, transparency.
– Ordinary citizens voice anger over inequality, cronyism, and broken promises. Many believe Rajoelina’s government had drifted away from its earlier promises.
– The mood is mixed. Some see the military takeover as a chance for systemic reform; others fear it’s just another cycle of power grabs.
Across Africa:
– The African Union (AU) has suspended Madagascar, as with other recent coups, insisting on a return to civilian rule and respect for constitutional mandates.
– South Africa urged calm and appealed for peaceful, constitutional processes.
– Observers in regional blocs worry that the Madagascar events reinforce a worrying trend: military interventions, weak institutions, protests born from unmet basic needs.
Internationally:
– United Nations agencies and foreign governments have called for restraint, condemned violence, and emphasized the need for free expression and humane treatment of protesters.
– There are concerns about potential humanitarian fallout especially if curfews, disruptions of utilities, and instability continue.
– France, among others, expressed concern over violations of democratic norms and potential foreign interference.
This crisis is not just political; it’s social, economic, institutional.
1. Basic service failure: Madagascar suffers regular outages in electricity and water. The state utility, Jirama, is widely blamed, as are infrastructure neglect and insufficient investment.
2. Youth discontent and unemployment: Most of the protesters are young. Many feel excluded from economic growth, have few opportunities, and are tired of poor public services.
3. Corruption, mismanagement, nepotism: Many say that wealth is misallocated, governance is opaque, and that officials are often part of patronage networks.
4. Weak institutions and precedent of coups: Madagascar has a history of military intervention. Coups or transitions by force are not new.
5. Economic hardship: High poverty rates, dependency on subsistence agriculture, and climate challenges combine to make living conditions precarious for many.
Its unfolding drama poses questions for democracy in Africa: how resilient are civilian governments when basic services fail? How much leeway do people give leaders before protests escalate?
The role of youth activism is once again central. Gen Z protesters are not just demanding policy changes; they demand accountability, dignity, systemic reform.
The involvement of the military and elite units like CAPSAT blurs the lines between protest and power takeover it’s a warning that when governance fails, coups become more likely.
Madagascar’s crisis is a mirror held to many countries: when basic needs are unmet, trust erodes, voices rise, and power shifts. Whether this coup and unrest mark the start of reform or simply another chapter in instability depends on one thing: whether power today yields to accountability tomorrow.
