Madagascar’s embattled President Andry Rajoelina has appointed a high-ranking military officer, Gen Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo, as the country’s new prime minister in an attempt to quell growing youth-led protests demanding his resignation.
The appointment, announced late Monday at the presidential palace, comes amid mounting unrest over repeated power cuts, widespread corruption, and soaring unemployment. President Rajoelina said the country needed a leader “capable of restoring order and the people’s trust,” calling Gen Zafisambo “someone clean” and “ready to save Madagascar.”
The move signals a deepening militarization of Madagascar’s government, as Rajoelina seeks to consolidate support from the armed forces after weeks of escalating demonstrations. The newly appointed prime minister previously served as the director of the military cabinet in the prime minister’s office, underscoring the president’s growing reliance on the military amid fears of instability and even a possible coup attempt.
The youth-led movement known as Gen Z Mada swiftly rejected the appointment, accusing the president of trying to suppress the voice of young people through force. In a defiant statement, the group gave Rajoelina 48 hours to step down, vowing to continue mass demonstrations until he leaves office.
Since erupting on 25 September, the protests have spread across multiple cities, evolving from frustration over power and water shortages into broader anger over economic hardship and political corruption. Despite recent cabinet dismissals, including that of former Prime Minister Christian Ntsay, the unrest has only intensified.
Violent clashes between protesters and security forces have left at least 22 people dead and over 100 injured, according to United Nations estimates, though the government disputes these figures, calling them “rumours and misinformation.” Reports indicate fresh confrontations on Monday in Antananarivo, the capital, where security forces blocked hundreds of students attempting to march to the city centre. Additional unrest was reported in Toliara in the south and Diego Suarez in the north.
Madagascar, one of the poorest nations in the world despite its rich natural resources, has a long history of political instability. The country has experienced multiple uprisings since independence in 1960, including the 2009 revolt that toppled then-President Marc Ravalomanana and brought Rajoelina to power. After ruling for four years, Rajoelina returned to the presidency in 2018 and was re-elected in 2023.
Today, the island nation remains mired in deep poverty, with around 75 percent of its 30 million people living below the poverty line and only about one-third having access to electricity. As demonstrations continue and tensions mount, Madagascar stands at a crossroads between military-backed authority and the growing demand for democratic reform.
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