Madagascar is spiraling into a profound political crisis as President Andry Rajoelina abruptly fled because of the growing protests led by the country’s youth and critical defections within the military. What began as unrest over widespread power outages and water shortages has evolved into a direct threat to Rajoelina’s leadership.
On October 13, Rajoelina addressed the nation via Facebook, stating he had shifted to a “safe space” after warning of assassination attempts and coup plots since late September. Though he did not reveal his location, he assured citizens of his commitment to protect Madagascar from descending into chaos. Opposition leader Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, however, confirmed that Rajoelina left the country on October 12 aboard a French military plane, reportedly arranged with French President Emmanuel Macron. The president’s office has not responded to these claims.
The protests, powered largely by Generation Z, have sadly resulted in at least 22 deaths since late September. In a dramatic turn, CAPSAT, an elite military unit that supported Rajoelina’s rise to power in 2009, has defected to the protesters, taking control of security operations and calling on other soldiers to join their cause. Madagascar now joins Nepal as the second country in little more than a month where youth-led movements have toppled governments.
As Madagascar navigates this critical juncture, the world watches closely, highlighting the growing role of youth activism in driving political change across the globe.
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