Gen Z from the Andes to the Himalayas: Leaderless Voices under the Skull Banner

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From the Andes to the Himalayas, a new wave of protests is spreading, driven by young people expressing their discontent with political and social realities.

In Madagascar, President Andry Rajoelina was forced to step down and leave the country following a “military coup” that came after weeks of demonstrations led by youths calling themselves “Gen Z Madagascar.” Initially protesting water and electricity shortages, their movement quickly turned into an anti-government uprising.

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Madagascar thus becomes the latest former French colony where the military has seized power since 2020, following coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Gabon, and Guinea.

The uprising in this Indian Ocean island mirrors recent protests in countries such as Nepal, the Philippines, Indonesia, Kenya, Peru, and Morocco.

These movements share one key feature: they are mostly leaderless and primarily composed of young people identifying as “Generation Z”—those born roughly between 1996 and 2010, the first generation to grow up entirely in the digital age.

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Sam Nadel, director of the Social Change Lab, a UK-based nonprofit researching protests and social movements, told the Associated Press: “What connects these youth-led protests is a shared sense of frustration at institutions’ failure to address their generation’s concerns—whether corruption, climate change, or economic

inequality. Protest becomes the logical outlet when institutional channels are blocked.”

Different countries, same frustrations

Though their demands differ by country, most of these protests stem from government failures or abuses.

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In Morocco, a leaderless group calling itself “Gen Z 212”—named after the country’s phone code—took to the streets to demand better public services and increased spending on health and education.

In response, King Mohammed VI urged Parliament to accelerate reforms to create more jobs for young people, improve public services, and focus more on rural development.

In Peru, demonstrations that began over pension reform expanded to broader grievances, including worsening insecurity and rampant government corruption.

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In Indonesia, violent protests erupted over lawmakers’ privileges and rising living costs, forcing the president to replace key economic and security ministers.

The most prominent so-called “Gen Z” movement was in Nepal, where deadly protests culminated in the prime minister’s resignation last September.

Protesters drew inspiration from successful anti-government movements elsewhere in South Asia—Sri Lanka in 2022 and Bangladesh in 2024—which had toppled sitting regimes.

In Madagascar, demonstrators said they were particularly inspired by Nepal’s and Sri Lanka’s uprisings.

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What began as demonstrations against power and water cuts soon evolved into calls for the president and cabinet to step down.

On Wednesday, the leader of Madagascar’s military coup announced he would assume the presidency.

At least 80 percent of Madagascar’s 32 million people live on less than 15,000 ariary a day (about $3.25), below the World Bank poverty line.

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The story of the black flag

Across several countries, a shared cultural symbol has emerged: a black flag featuring a smiling skull and crossbones wearing a straw hat.

This image comes from the popular Japanese manga and anime One Piece, which follows a band of pirates fighting what they see as corrupt governments.

In Nepal, protesters hung the same flag on the gates of Singha Durbar, the seat of government, and on various ministries, many of which were set on fire. The banner has also appeared in protests across Indonesia, the Philippines, Morocco, and Madagascar.

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Last week in Lima, Peru’s capital, 27-year-old electrician David Tafur stood in San Martín Square—the current center of weekly demonstrations—waving the same flag.

“In my case, it’s about anger over abuse of power, corruption, and deaths,” he said, referring to the surge in killings and extortion plaguing the South American nation since 2017 amid weakened anti-crime laws.

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Digital mobilization

Social media platforms have become powerful tools of modern activism, allowing young people to connect, share information, and organize events.

Before Nepal’s protests began, the government tried to ban most social media platforms, but young users bypassed the restrictions using VPNs.

Through TikTok, Instagram, and X, protesters exposed the lavish lifestyles of politicians’ children, highlighting the gap between rich and poor and spreading calls to mobilize.

As Nepalese protester Yujan Rajbandari explained, “These movements made young people realize they are global citizens, united by the digital space—a force that now shapes the world.”

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