Madagascar’s Gen Z protests enter a new phase as signs of army division emerge
Under heavy military guard and amid growing signs of division within the armed forces, protesters in Madagascar entered the iconic May 13 Square in Antananarivo, a site deeply associated with the country’s political uprisings.
It is the first time since demonstrations began last month that protesters have managed to access the square, which has long been a symbol of popular revolt in Madagascar’s political history.
The protests, inspired by “Gen Z” movements in Kenya and Nepal, started on September 25 in response to severe shortages of water and electricity. However, they have since evolved into a major political challenge to President Andry Rajoelina’s rule — the most serious since his re-election in 2023.
Earlier today, local media reported that soldiers from a military unit that once helped Rajoelina seize power in the 2009 coup had urged their colleagues to defy orders and support the youth-led demonstrations.
The elite unit known as CAPSAT, which played a pivotal role in Rajoelina’s rise to power, issued a rare public call for solidarity with protesters demanding his resignation.
Videos shared on social media showed CAPSAT soldiers calling on their fellow troops to “stand with the people.”
Senior military leaders, including the army chief of staff and a top official from the Ministry of Armed Forces, have since urged troops to engage in dialogue and avoid further escalation.
Footage broadcast by local media also showed several soldiers leaving their barracks to accompany protesters to May 13 Square — a historic site of political uprisings that had been heavily guarded throughout the unrest.
Demonstrators are demanding that President Rajoelina step down, issue an apology to the nation, and dissolve both the Senate and the Electoral Commission.
Last week, Rajoelina dismissed his government and appointed a new prime minister in an attempt to calm tensions.
According to the United Nations, at least 22 people have been killed and about 100 injured in the unrest. However, the Malagasy government disputes these figures, claiming the real toll stands at 12 dead.
