Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has requested a year to address the country’s ongoing issues. He stated that if these problems persist, he will resign. This announcement was made during a town-hall meeting at his palace attended by various government supporters, where he encouraged attendees to express their concerns honestly.
The protest movement known as Gen Z Mada, which has been advocating for Rajoelina’s resignation, declined an invitation to participate in the discussions. The group contends that they cannot engage with a government they see as repressive and are demanding basic human rights. In response, Gen Z Mada has called for renewed protests.
Rajoelina has been holding meetings with the public as part of a pledge to improve communication, asserting that the country’s challenges can best be addressed through dialogue rather than demonstrations. He assured attendees that ongoing power projects aim to add 265 megawatts to the national grid, which should mitigate frequent power outages. He further affirmed, “If power cuts persist in the capital within a year, I will resign.”
These protests began on September 25, initially sparked by frustrations over persistent power and water shortages. They have since expanded to encompass broader discontent around issues such as corruption, unemployment, and rising living costs. In response to the unrest, Rajoelina dismissed his entire government and appointed an army general as the new prime minister, a decision that the protest movement rejected.
Rajoelina, who has been in power since 2009 after leading protests that led to military intervention, faces a youth-led opposition that continues to call for his resignation. However, street protests seem to have diminished in intensity, and daily life in most areas of Antananarivo remains largely unaffected, aside from increased police presence in certain neighborhoods. The United Nations reports at least 22 fatalities in clashes with security forces, though the government questions these figures.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c07v33mg9m2o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss