Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has pledged to step down within a year if he fails to resolve the country’s deepening social and economic crises, in a dramatic attempt to quell nationwide discontent driven by a powerful youth-led protest movement. Speaking during a town-hall style meeting at the presidential palace, Rajoelina told supporters and citizens that he was ready to be held accountable for Madagascar’s current hardships, admitting that the country’s challenges had been worsened by leaders and advisers who refused to tell him the truth.
“I don’t want flattery. I want to hear the truth,” the president declared before a crowd of government supporters and local representatives who gathered to question him directly. “It’s the people who kept telling me that everything was fine who are responsible for our current situation.”
The 49-year-old leader’s remarks come amid a wave of youth-led protests that have rocked the island nation for over two weeks. The protest movement, known as Gen Z Mada, has accused the government of corruption, mismanagement, and repression. The group has repeatedly called for Rajoelina’s immediate resignation, arguing that his administration has failed to provide basic services such as electricity, water, and jobs for millions of struggling citizens.
The Gen Z Mada movement, which mobilizes largely through social media, rejected the president’s invitation to participate in the dialogue, describing it as a political trap. “We refuse the president’s invitation to talks. We will not engage in dialogue with a regime that represses, assaults, and humiliates its youth in the streets,” the group wrote in a post on Facebook. They have since called for a nationwide strike and renewed protests, urging citizens across all regions to rise up in defiance of what they call “a government of lies and failure.”
Protests first erupted on 25 September, initially sparked by severe electricity and water shortages, but they have since evolved into a larger movement against corruption, inequality, and the high cost of living. Demonstrations have turned deadly in several parts of the capital, Antananarivo, and other cities, leaving at least 22 people dead and dozens more injured, according to the United Nations — figures disputed by government officials.
In an attempt to defuse tensions, President Rajoelina last week dissolved his cabinet and on Monday appointed Army General Richard Rakotonirina as the new prime minister. However, Gen Z Mada and other opposition groups rejected the move, describing it as a cosmetic reshuffle that does not address the root causes of the crisis.
During the town-hall meeting, Rajoelina acknowledged the anger of citizens but insisted that dialogue, not street confrontation, was the way forward. “We must listen to one another. The problems of this country can only be solved through honest conversations, not violence,” he said. The president outlined several key projects intended to stabilize the energy sector, including efforts to add 265 megawatts to the national grid within 12 months. “I swear that if power cuts persist in the capital within a year, I will resign,” he vowed, in what has become the most striking promise of his political career.
Despite his assurances, many citizens remain skeptical, citing years of unfulfilled promises and worsening living conditions. Power outages, fuel shortages, and inflation continue to plague daily life, while unemployment among the youth has reached alarming levels. Critics say Rajoelina’s administration, which came to power in 2009 following a military-backed uprising he led against former president Marc Ravalomanana, has failed to deliver meaningful economic progress despite years of pledges and international assistance.
Political analysts note that the current crisis represents the most serious challenge to Rajoelina’s leadership since his return to power in 2019. His efforts to frame himself as a reformer willing to listen to the people have been overshadowed by accusations of authoritarianism and growing public frustration. “He is trying to reclaim legitimacy through dialogue,” said a political observer in Antananarivo. “But the youth no longer trust his words they want results, not speeches.”
As security forces maintain a heavy presence in key areas of the capital, with roads blocked and checkpoints set up in protest-prone districts, daily life in much of Antananarivo has cautiously resumed. Still, the atmosphere remains tense, with fears that any renewed demonstrations could spiral into violence.
For now, the embattled president’s one-year ultimatum has bought him time but it has also set a clear benchmark that could define his political survival. As the Gen Z Mada movement continues to mobilize across the country and the opposition hardens its stance, Madagascar stands at a crossroads between reform and revolt.
Whether President Rajoelina can deliver on his bold promise or be forced to make good on his threat to resign will determine the island nation’s political trajectory in the months ahead.
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