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Tag: Andry Rajoelina

  • Madagascar’s Gen Z protesters angry at coup leader’s choice of PM

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    The leaders of Madagascar’s Gen Z movement, whose protests helped topple President Andry Rajoelina, say they disapprove of the prime minister appointed by the country’s new ruler.

    Col Michael Randrianirina led a coup last week and was sworn in as head of state on Friday.

    On Monday, he named businessman Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo as his prime minister. But in a statement on Facebook, Gen Z Mada said the appointment was made in a “non-transparent” manner and “without consultation”.

    Gen Z Mada added that the decision “runs contrary to the desired structural change” the movement was seeking.

    The group has demanded to know how Rajaonarivelo was selected given what it says was his connection to the previous government.

    “Our revolution will not be hijacked. The Malagasy youth are watching and mobilising,” Gen Z Mada said.

    Protests across Madagascar, triggered by frequent water and power outages, began almost a month ago.

    Led by young people, they attracted other sections of society and morphed into wider demands for political change.

    Rajoelina’s calls for dialogue failed to quell the demonstrations and the president went into hiding. It was widely reported that he had fled abroad.

    A week ago, Col Randrianirina, the head of the country’s elite CAPSAT army unit, stepped in and announced the military had seized power.

    After being sworn-in in civilian clothes on 17 October he thanked the young people who took to the streets.

    “With a people in full fervour, driven by the desire for change… we joyfully open a new chapter in the life of our nation,” he said.

    Gen Z Mada has not said exactly what it will do if Rajaonarivelo’s appointment is not explained or reversed, but the group has made it clear that it will continue to monitor the actions of the new administration.

    “We will not allow the failed methods of the past to continue in a new form,” Gen Z Mada’s statement concluded.

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  • Military says it has seized power in Madagascar after president moves to ‘safe place’

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    An elite military unit says it has seized power in Madagascar from President Andry Rajoelina following weeks of youth-led protests in the Indian Ocean island.

    Standing outside the Presidential Palace, CAPSAT chief Col Michael Randrianirina said the military would form a government and hold elections within two years. He also suspended key democratic institutions, like the electoral commission.

    Gen Z protestors will be part of the changes because “the movement was created in the streets so we have to respect their demands” he added.

    Troops and protestors have been celebrating the apparent ousting of President Rajoelina, with thousands cheering and waving flags in the capital, Antananarivo.

    Madagascar’s constitutional court has named Col Randrianirina as the country’s new leader, even though a statement from the president’s office said he was still in charge and denounced what it described as an “attempted coup d’etat”.

    Rajoelina’s whereabouts are unknown, but he has said he is sheltering in a “safe place” following an alleged attempt on his life by “military personnel and politicians”, which CAPSAT has denied having any involvement in. There have been unconfirmed reports that the president was flown out of the country on a French military aircraft.

    Col Randrianirina told the BBC that Madagascar was “a country where chaos reigns right now”.

    “Chaos because there’s no president – he’s gone abroad.”

    The unrest began just over two weeks ago, after a youth-led movement began protesting against chronic water and power cuts across the country.

    Youth-led protests began over electricity cuts and water shortages [AFP via Getty Images]

    The demonstrations soon escalated, to reflect wider dissatisfaction with Rajoelina’s government over high unemployment, rampant corruption and the cost-of-living crisis.

    Protestors clashed with security forces resulting in the death of at least 22 people and more than 100 others injured, according to the UN, although the Malagasy government has dismissed those figures and described them as based on “rumours and misinformation”.

    CAPSAT, which supported Rajoelina when he came into power in 2009, joined the protestors on Saturday.

    President Rajoelina, an entrepreneur and former DF, was once seen as a fresh start for Madagascar.

    The baby-faced leader became president at the age of just 34, earning the title of Africa’s youngest leader, and going on to govern for four years, before returning to power after the 2018 election.

    Video of President Andry Rajoelina on an tablet screen

    President Andry Rajoelina gave a speech on Monday via his Facebook page [AFP via Getty Images]

    But he fell out of favour following allegations of cronyism and corruption, which he denied.

    Despite the fact that power appears to have shifted away from him, he has continued to try to influence events.

    Rajoelina attempted to dissolve the national assembly before the opposition could vote to strip him of his presidency for abandonment of post, but that didn’t work.

    Lawmakers voted to impeach Rajoelina by 130 votes to one blank ballot. Even members of Rajoelina’s party, IRMAR, voted overwhelmingly to impeach him.

    Rajoelina rejected the vote, calling it “null and void”.

    The African Union (AU) has warned against soldiers “meddling” in Madagascar’s political affairs and rejected “any attempt at unconstitutional changes of government”.

    French President Emmanuel Macron called the situation “greatly worrying”.

    The island has gone through a series of political upheavals in recent years.

    Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world, with 75% of its 30 million people living below the poverty line, according to the World Bank.

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  • Madagascar Becomes the Latest Country to See a Gen Z Revolt

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    Its president is in hiding, an army unit has taken control and crowds of protesters are demanding sweeping social change.

    The wave of protests mushrooming around the world has now forced a change of leadership in Madagascar. After weeks of demonstrations over corruption and worsening living standards, the armed forces say they have taken control while President Andry Rajoelina has taken refuge in what he described as a secure, undisclosed location as he tries to shore up enough political support to regain power.

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  • Soldiers threaten to seize state TV in Madagascar, presidency says, amid warnings of coup attempt

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    Soldiers have threatened to seize the state TV headquarters in Madagascar as President Andry Rajoelina was due to address the nation, his office says, amid unconfirmed reports that he has fled the country.

    A French military aircraft is said to have airlifted Rajoelina from the Indian Ocean island to an unknown location, following a fortnight of nationwide protests aimed at kicking him out of power.

    His failed attempts to placate young protesters – dubbed “Gen Z Mada” – saw him sack his entire government and make other concessions to no avail.

    On Sunday, his office said an attempt was under way to force him from power. He has not been seen in public since Wednesday.

    Rajoelina’s planned address to the nation has been delayed several times – it was initially due at 1900 local time (1600 GMT).

    Over the weekend, a powerful army unit – known as CAPSAT – that helped install Rajoelina in power in 2009 moved to undermine him by declaring itself in command of all the armed forces, while some of its officers joined protesters on the streets of the capital, Antananarivo.

    Following a meeting of military commanders on Monday, the new Chief of Army Staff installed by CAPSAT, Gen Demosthene Pikulas, assured the public that the security forces were working together to maintain order in the island nation.

    By Monday evening, the general was at state TV headquarters trying to resolve the crisis, according to a statement from the presidency.

    Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior leader in Madagascar’s largest opposition party told the BBC that Madagascar was now effectively being run by CAPSAT.

    The TIM party has also said it plans to bring impeachment proceedings against Rajoelina for “abandonment of post”.

    Several of Rajoelina’s inner circle have fled to nearby Mauritius. They include former Prime Minister President Richard Ravalomanana and the businessman Maminiaina Ravatomanga.

    Despite its abundant natural resources, Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world. About 75% of people there live below the poverty line, the World Bank says, while data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) shows just over one-third of people have access to electricity.

    The protests began over anger with repeated water and power cuts, then escalated to reflect wider dissatisfaction with Rajoelina’s government over high unemployment, corruption, and the cost-of-living crisis.

    At least 22 people were killed and more than 100 injured in the first few days of the protests, according to the UN, although the government has rejected these figures.

    Eyewitnesses describe security officers opening fire on protesters with live ammunition. In one case, a newborn baby died from smoke inhalation after being exposed to tear gas.

    Madagascar has been rocked by multiple uprisings since it gained independence in 1960, including mass protests in 2009 that forced then-President Marc Ravalomanana to step down and saw Rajoelina ushered into office.

    Aged just 34 at the time, Rajoelina became Africa’s youngest leader – going on to govern for four years, then returning to power again after the 2018 election.

    Rajoelina was born into wealth and, before entering politics, had made a name for himself as an entrepreneur and DJ – setting up a radio station and an advertising company along the way.

    But his sharp-suited, baby-faced appeal soon waned, as allegations of cronyism and entrenched corruption became unshakeable.

    [AFP via Getty Images]

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  • Madagascar presidency says attempt to seize power under way

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    The office of Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has said an attempt to seize power illegally and by force is under way in the country.

    Hours later, an army unit known as CAPSAT claimed that it had taken over the leadership of the military command, and was now in control of all the armed forces – land, air, and naval.

    This is the same unit that played a crucial role in the 2009 Malagasy political crisis, which helped Rajoelina rise to power.

    Madagascar was first hit by protests on 25 September against water and power cuts, but they have escalated to reflect wider dissatisfaction with Rajoelina’s government over high unemployment, corruption, and the cost-of-living crisis.

    Rajoelina’s statement said “there is an attempt to seize power at this time in the territory of the Republic, in complete violation of the Constitution and democratic principles,” in a translation.

    He condemned “in the strongest possible terms” what he called an attempt to destabilise the country. He also called on all of the nation’s key forces to unite in defending the constitutional order and national sovereignty.

    CAPSAT said it had appointed a new chief of staff, Gen Demosthene Pikulas, according to a statement issued on its Facebook page.

    On Saturday, some soldiers had left their barracks on the outskirts of the capital, Antananarivo, to join protesters in front of the city’s town hall.

    There were reports of a shoot-out at the camp after officials from the gendarmerie visited it for discussions. No further details have emerged of the incident.

    CAPSAT had condemned the use of force by security forces in handling recent protests in Antananarivo.

    On Saturday, a statement from the presidency had assured the nation that Rajoelina and the new prime minister – an army general he appointed last week – were in control of the situation.

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  • Madagascar president asks for one year to resolve problems or he will resign

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    Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has asked for one year to fix the country’s challenges, promising that if they persist, he will resign.

    He said this during a town-hall style meeting at his palace with various groups of government supporters. Many attendees had the opportunity to ask the president questions or simply share their views – to which he responded.

    “I don’t want flattery. I want to hear the truth. It’s the people who kept telling me that everything was fine who are responsible for our current situation,” he said.

    The movement behind the protest, known as Gen Z Mada, has been calling for the president to resign – and rejected an invitation to attend the talks.

    They argue that they cannot engage a government that has been repressing them as they demand basic human rights. The group has called for new protests on Thursday.

    “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,” they wrote on their Facebook page.

    Rajoelina has been holding these meetings as part of his pledge to “listen more”, emphasising that the challenges facing the Indian Ocean island nation can only be solved through honest conversations and not protests.

    The president assured those at the dialogue that ongoing power projects would address the recurring outages by adding 265 megawatts to the national grid.

    “I swear that if power cuts persist in the capital within a year, I will resign,” he said.

    The protests began on 25 September triggered by anger over persistent power and water shortages, and have escalated into broader dissatisfaction over corruption, high unemployment and the cost-of-living crisis.

    Last week, Rajoelina sacked his entire government and appointed an army general as prime minister on Monday. The protest movement rejected the appointment and vowed to continue their struggle.

    Rajoelina came to power in 2009 after leading mass protests that triggered military intervention and overthrew then-President Marc Ravalomanana.

    Although the youth-led movement continues to demand his resignation, street protests appear to have weakened.

    Life in most parts of the capital, Antananarivo, continues as normal, except in a few neighbourhoods with a heavy police presence, where some roads have been blocked or are being closely monitored.

    At least 22 people have died in clashes with security forces and scores more have been injured, according to the United Nations. The authorities have disputed these figures.

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  • Madagascar’s president dissolves government after ‘Gen Z’ protests

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    Madagascar’s president has said he will dissolve his government, following days of youth-led protests over longstanding water and power cuts.

    “We acknowledge and apologise if members of the government have not carried out the tasks assigned to them,” Andry Rajoelina said in a televised national address on Monday.

    Thousands of predominantly Gen Z demonstrators have taken to the streets in cities across Madagascar since Thursday, under the rallying cry of “We want to live, not survive”.

    The UN’s human rights chief condemned the “unnecessary force” used by security forces to quell the unrest, with at least 22 people dead and 100 others injured.

    Protests first started in the capital Antananarivo, but have since spread to eight cities across the country.

    A dusk-to-dawn curfew was imposed in Antananarivo after reports of violence and looting, with police firing rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowds.

    Last week, Madagascar’s president announced that he had sacked the energy minister for failing to do his job properly, but protesters demanded that the president and the rest of his government step down too.

    Thousands took to the streets once again on Monday.

    “I understand the anger, the sadness, and the difficulties caused by power cuts and water supply problems,” Rajoelina said during his address on state broadcaster Televiziona Malagasy.

    He said he had “terminated the functions of the prime minister and the government” and applications for a new premier would be received over the next three days before a new government is formed.

    Rajoelina added that he wanted to hold talks with young people.

    UNCHR head Volker Türk said he was “shocked” by a violent crackdown by security forces that saw beatings, arrests, live bullets and tear gas meted out to demonstrators.

    “I urge the security forces to desist from the use of unnecessary and disproportionate force and to immediately release all arbitrarily detained protesters,” Türk said in a statement issued by his office on Monday.

    According to the UN, the dead “include protesters and bystanders killed by members of the security forces, but also others killed in subsequent widespread violence and looting by individuals and gangs not associated with the protesters”.

    Madagascar’s foreign ministry has rejected the UN’s figures, alleging the data “are based on rumours or misinformation”.

    A banner at one of last week’s demonstrations in Antananarivo read: “We don’t want trouble, we just want our rights”.

    But some reports last week suggested protesters had damaged – possibly by setting fire to – the homes of at least two legislators.

    But the “Gen Z” movement alleges that paid goons had looted various buildings in order to undermine their cause.

    Madagascar has been rocked by multiple uprisings since it gained independence in 1960, including mass protests in 2009 that forced former president Marc Ravalomanana to step down and saw Rajoelina come to power.

    The protests mark the most significant challenge the president has faced since his third re-election in 2023.

    Additional reporting by Danny Aeberhard

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