Madagascar is grappling with growing unrest as citizens press ahead with protests over crippling power and water shortages, even after President Andry Rajoelina dismissed his energy minister Olivier Jean Gustave Rakotomalala on Friday. For over a week, the capital Antananarivo and other cities have seen daily demonstrations, mostly led by students and young workers angry over outages that stretch up to 12 hours a day. Many say the blackouts have disrupted schools, businesses, and basic daily life.
The government’s response has been heavy-handed. Police have fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds, leaving at least five people dead. Protesters accuse security forces of targeting civilians while failing to stop widespread looting that has gripped the capital. Businesses have been hit hard. One restaurant worker described arriving at her job to find looters still inside, “They had knives and threatened to kill us if we moved. They told us they were poor, that they had nothing, and that they were forced to steal.”
Despite the violence, many demonstrators insist their movement is peaceful. Some even returned to the streets on Friday to help clean up the wreckage left behind. “The city is ransacked and it is our duty to clean it up,” said one young man. “I support the protests, but I wish there wasn’t so much damage.” President Rajoelina has denounced the unrest as “acts of destabilization” and even a “coup attempt,” though he maintains his government is working on solutions to the energy crisis. An overnight curfew is now in place, but organizers say rallies will continue until real change is seen. With frustration mounting, many fear the protests could spiral further unless the government delivers swift improvements to the country’s failing utilities.
