Madagascar plunged into political chaos after President Andry Rajoelina reportedly fled the country as massive youth-led protests erupted. The unrest began on September 25, when citizens launched demonstrations over power and water shortages. These soon grew into a broader movement demanding action against corruption, poor governance, and economic hardship.
Young citizens, most of them part of Generation Z — the population under 25 that forms the majority in Madagascar — have led the protests. With the country’s median age below 20, young people have become the strongest voice demanding change. Many accuse the government of causing unemployment, rising living costs, and decades of poor leadership that have left three-quarters of the population in poverty.
Growing Anger Turns Into Nationwide Uprising in Madagascar
Witnesses in the capital, Antananarivo, described huge crowds filling Independence Square over the weekend. Demonstrators carried national flags and shouted slogans demanding that the president resign. “The president must quit now,” many chanted as security forces watched.
A hotel worker named Adrianarivony Fanomegantsoa, 22, told Reuters that his monthly salary of about 300,000 ariary, or $67, was barely enough to buy food. “In 16 years, the president and his government have done nothing except enrich themselves while the people stay poor,” he said. “And the youth, the Gen Z, suffer the most.”
According to the United Nations, at least 22 people have been killed in clashes between protesters and security forces since the demonstrations began. Despite the violence, crowds have continued to grow each day, showing the depth of frustration among ordinary citizens.
Madagascar President Escapes on French Military Plane
Sources told Reuters that President Rajoelina left Madagascar on Sunday after elite army units that had once supported him switched sides and joined the protesters. The opposition in parliament confirmed his departure, saying that officials in the presidential office admitted that he had left the country.
The president’s current location remains unknown. However, a military source claimed that Rajoelina boarded a French military aircraft to flee the island nation. The French radio network RFI reported that he may have made a deal with French President Emmanuel Macron for safe passage.
According to the source, a French Army Casa aircraft landed at Sainte Marie Airport, a small facility off Madagascar’s east coast. Just minutes later, a helicopter arrived and transferred Rajoelina into the plane before it took off.
📵 ICE Raids Ignite L.A. Protests—DOJ Accuses ICEBlock of “Endangering Federal Agents”
Later that evening, Rajoelina addressed the nation in a Facebook broadcast, saying he had moved to a “safe location” to protect his life. He appeared calm but defiant and declared that he would not allow Madagascar to be destroyed. However, he did not disclose his exact location.
After his speech, a diplomat stated that Rajoelina refused to step down despite the growing unrest. When reporters asked about France’s involvement, French President Emmanuel Macron said he could not confirm whether Paris had helped Rajoelina flee but emphasized the need to preserve Madagascar’s constitutional order. He also acknowledged the anger of Madagascar’s youth and urged military factions not to manipulate their protests.
Before leaving the country, Rajoelina reportedly pardoned several prisoners, including two French nationals convicted of plotting a coup in 2021. An internal presidency document confirmed this decision.
Military Defections and Leadership Shake-Up
The crisis in Madagascar deepened when CAPSAT, an elite army unit that once helped President Andry Rajoelina seize power in 2009, defected to join the protesters. The unit declared it would no longer fire on civilians and even marched alongside demonstrators in Antananarivo. Soon after, CAPSAT appointed a new army chief, prompting Rajoelina to accuse them of attempting a coup.
Tensions grew as part of the gendarmerie, the country’s paramilitary police, also joined the protesters and appointed their own leader. The Senate president, another target of public anger, was removed from office and replaced temporarily by Jean André Ndremanjary. Under Madagascar’s constitution, the Senate leader assumes the presidency if the post becomes vacant.
Nepal rocked by Gen Z uprising as youth-led protests ignite nationwide chaos; Prime Minister Resigns
The loss of support from the military left Rajoelina increasingly isolated, forcing him to flee the country. Across Antananarivo, slogans and graffiti revealed public frustration over decades of poverty and corruption. According to the World Bank, Madagascar’s GDP per capita has dropped nearly 50% since independence in 1960, leaving most citizens in poverty.
The youth-led protests mirror movements in other nations such as Nepal and Morocco, where similar anger against corruption and inequality has driven demands for change. What began as outrage over water and power shortages has turned into a sweeping movement led by Madagascar’s young generation.