Thousands of anti-government demonstrators gathered in Antananarivo, Madagascar, on Saturday, with military personnel joining their ranks in a show of solidarity against the government. Protesters called on security forces to “refuse orders to shoot,” condemning the police’s actions during two weeks of escalating youth-led protests that began on September 25. The unrest has been fueled by widespread frustration over power and water shortages affecting daily life on the island.
Prime Minister Ruphin Fortunat Dimbisoa Zafisambo addressed the nation on Saturday night, declaring that the government was “standing strong” and “ready to collaborate and listen to all forces,” including the youth, trade unions, and the military. In a video message, he warned that Madagascar could not withstand further crises if divisions among its people continued. Meanwhile, the presidency confirmed that President Andry Rajoelina “remains in the country” and is actively managing national affairs.
Protesters and Military Unite Amid Tensions
Saturday’s demonstration was one of the largest since protests erupted, with police deploying stun grenades and tear gas in attempts to disperse crowds of several thousand. However, the arrival of soldiers from the CAPSAT contingent, which consists of administrative and technical officers, provided a significant boost to the protesters. As military vehicles rolled into the city, demonstrators welcomed the troops with cheers and calls of gratitude, waving the national flag.
Colonel Michael Randrianirina, a CAPSAT officer, reported that police had opened fire on soldiers as they approached a barracks, resulting in one soldier’s death and injuries to a journalist. “For all those who sent the gendarmes here, starting with the head of gendarmerie, the prime minister, the president… they must leave power,” he stated. Local emergency services reported two fatalities and 26 injuries during the protest, with gunfire still audible in the city center as night fell.
Prior to their departure from Soanierana, the soldiers urged their fellow military and security personnel to refrain from engaging against the protesters. “Let us join forces, military, gendarmes, and police, and refuse to be paid to shoot our friends, our brothers, and our sisters,” Randrianirina said in a video shared on social media. This show of unity marks a notable moment in the ongoing unrest, echoing a similar mutiny in 2009 that helped Rajoelina rise to power.
Demands for Change and Accountability
The Gen Z movement, which has been leading protests almost daily, reiterated their demands for Rajoelina’s resignation, calling for a “democratic national dialogue” and “universal access to essential services,” including water and employment. “We firmly reaffirm that we do not seek a coup d’Etat nor the seizure of power by force,” the movement’s statement emphasized, expressing gratitude to the CAPSAT contingent for their “powerful and historic gesture.”
Protesters described their plight under the ongoing power and water cuts, with one anonymous young man stating, “Life in Madagascar is hell… And once you ask for what you want, they give you tear gas. There is no freedom.” The United Nations reported that at least 22 people had died in the initial days of the protests, a figure contested by Rajoelina, who claimed last week that there were “12 confirmed deaths, and all of these individuals were looters and vandals.”
In response to the ongoing unrest, Rajoelina dismissed his government on September 30 and appointed an army general as prime minister, an attempt that has not quelled the protests. As tensions continue to rise, the situation in Madagascar remains fluid, with the potential for further developments in the days to come.
