Mass Protests Erupt in Madagascar's Capital, Energy Minister Dismissed
Recently, large-scale protests erupted in Madagascar, with demonstrators marching in the streets of the capital Antananarivo to express their dissatisfaction with frequent water and power outages. According to AFP on September 28, the protests quickly turned into riots, with demonstrators clashing with police. A source said that the violent incidents resulted in five deaths, but this number has not been confirmed by Malagasy officials.
Madagascar is currently facing a severe energy crisis, with continuous power and water cuts nationwide. Many families and businesses experience power outages for more than 12 hours a day, causing dissatisfaction among locals. Since the local time on September 25, thousands of protesters have held demonstrations in Antananarivo, protesting against the water and power cuts and demanding the Malagasy government restore water and electricity supply nationwide.
The report stated that the protests were mainly initiated by young people in Madagascar, who carried slogans such as "Water and electricity are basic human needs" and "Let us speak out loudly," accusing President Rajoelina of failing to improve people's lives.
The protests soon turned into violent conflicts, with several shops in Antananarivo being looted, some buildings and cars set on fire, and the homes of three lawmakers closely associated with Rajoelina set on fire. The police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the protesters and imposed curfews in Antananarivo, Ankilamahitsy, Mahajanga, Toliara, and Antsirabe.
Angelo Ravelonarivo, head of the Malagasy security forces, issued a statement late on the 25th: "Unfortunately, some people have taken advantage of this situation to destroy others' property." He stated that the security forces decided to implement a curfew from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily to protect the people and their property "until public order is restored."
It is still unclear about the casualties caused by the violent incidents. A hospital source told AFP that five people died in the riots, but this number has not been confirmed by Malagasy officials.
In response to the protests, Rajoelina announced on the 26th that he had dismissed the energy minister, Olivier Jean-Baptiste, for "not doing his job properly." Rajoelina also condemned the violent incidents, calling them "acts that disrupt stability."
According to AFP, on the local time of the 27th, protesters gathered again on the streets of Antananarivo, holding up slogans such as "We are poor, angry, and unhappy" and "Madagascar belongs to us." Malagasy security forces prevented the protesters from marching towards the city center and used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) issued a statement on the 27th expressing concern over "unconfirmed casualties and damage to public and private property," and praised the Malagasy government's "firm commitment to restoring peace and stability." The African Union called on all parties to maintain restraint, calmness, and dialogue.
Madagascar is an island nation in the Indian Ocean in Southeast Africa and is also the world's largest producer of vanilla. However, most of its population lives in poverty. According to World Bank data, about 75% of Madagascar's 30 million population lived below the poverty line in 2022.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1844519427212617/
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