President Andry Rajoelina’s selection of an army general as the new prime minister faced a lukewarm reception in Madagascar on Tuesday and was brushed off as a distraction by the youth-led movement responsible for two weeks of protests. Rajoelina appointed Major General Ruphin Fortunat Dimbisoa Zafisambo as the head of the government late on Monday in an attempt to calm the anti-government unrest, which, according to the United Nations, has resulted in 22 fatalities, a figure disputed by local authorities.
The day following the announcement, approximately 200 individuals congregated for a fresh protest in the capital, with some expressing skepticism about Rajoelina’s willingness to address their grievances through this change. Princia Rakotontraibe, a medical intern participating in the demonstration, remarked, “The president seems intent on asserting military authority, suggesting that civilians should conform.” She joined the protest in response to the police’s use of tear gas near a maternity ward on Saturday.
The demonstrations were sparked on September 25 by frustrations over ongoing power and water shortages, evolving into a broader anti-government movement that initially demanded Rajoelina’s resignation. In response, he dismissed his entire government last week.
The Gen Z Mada group, leading the coalition of around 20 groups, presented Rajoelina with a list of demands over the weekend, including a public apology for the violence against protesters but omitting any mention of his resignation. They set a deadline of Wednesday night for the government to act, threatening a nationwide general strike if their demands were not met.
Rajoelina scheduled a public gathering at the presidential palace on the same day, inviting individuals to ask questions and voice their concerns directly to him. Additionally, the Gen Z group demanded a revamp of the Constitutional Court and the dissolution of the Senate, or at the very least, the removal of its president, Richard Ravalomanana, a former police general.
In a statement on Monday, the group rebuffed “all efforts at political diversion, particularly the appointment of a new prime minister.” Some protesters indicated that the shift away from demanding the president’s resignation was motivated by fears of further destabilizing the country.
Political scientist Ketakandriana Rafitoson noted that demanding the president’s resignation or a coup could lead to increased instability and chaos. The protesters’ demands now provide a clearer roadmap for the political future post-crisis, moving beyond mere challenges to the existing regime.
“Simply changing the president won’t bring about significant change,” remarked Rakotontraibe, the 26-year-old medical intern, before the protesters were dispersed by tear gas.
Madagascar has a history of political upheavals, with instances in 1972, 2002, and 2009 when Rajoelina assumed the role of interim president following a popular uprising. The island nation, where nearly three-quarters of the 32 million population lived below the poverty line in 2022, according to the World Bank, has a prolonged history of military involvement in governance.
Analysts suggest that public sentiment towards the military is less hostile compared to law enforcement agencies. Rafitoson highlighted the criticism directed at the gendarmerie and police for their handling of the protests.
Despite this, protester Daudet Santatriniaina, aged 41, remained unconvinced by the appointment of the new prime minister, stating, “It’s business as usual. I have no faith in the military.”