Thousands of protesters in Madagascar have vowed to continue their demonstrations despite President Andry Rajoelina’s move to dissolve his cabinet.
Diaspora Digital Media gathered that the protests, driven by frustration over repeated water and electricity cuts, have already claimed at least 22 lives, according to the United Nations.
On Monday, Rajoelina dismissed his government in a dramatic attempt to calm the unrest.
In a televised address, he admitted that the nation’s suffering weighed heavily on him.
“When the Malagasy people suffer, I feel that pain too. I have not slept day or night while searching for solutions,” he declared.
But the announcement failed to ease tensions.
Protest leaders quickly called for new rallies in Antananarivo, the capital, and across other cities.
Tuesday’s protests were set for 11:00 am local time, with organizers urging citizens to defy government pressure.
Security forces have already responded with force, dispersing crowds with tear gas.
The UN reported that at least 22 people have died, and over 100 have been injured.
The government disputes these figures, dismissing them as “rumors.”
Anger is spreading fastest among young people, many of whom call themselves the “TikTok generation.”
Inspired by movements in Indonesia and Nepal, they accuse the authorities of silencing their voices while failing to provide basic services.
“They call us a generation of idiots. But when we speak up for our country, they try to silence us,” said one student dressed in black to honor those killed.
She reminded Rajoelina of his own rise to power through street protests years ago.
Rajoelina, a former mayor of Antananarivo, first seized power in 2009 after leading demonstrations that toppled Marc Ravalomanana.
Though he skipped the 2013 election under international pressure, he returned through the ballot box in 2018.
Madagascar, one of the world’s poorest nations, is heavily dependent on vanilla, its most valuable export after saffron.
Yet the wealth from this trade has done little to ease the daily struggles of its 30 million people.
For many young protesters, the fight is no longer just about blackouts but about ending decades of misrule.
And despite the crackdown, they appear determined to keep the momentum alive.
The post 22 Killed as Anti-Corruption Protest Erupts in Madagascar first appeared on Diaspora Digital Media DDM.
