Madagascar protests intensify amid new prime minister appointment

Madagascar has been experiencing widespread anti-government protests for three consecutive weeks, driven primarily by youth-led groups like Gen Z Madagascar, demanding the resignation of President Andry Rajoelina amid grievances over power and water shortages, corruption, and poor living conditions. President Rajoelina responded by dissolving his cabinet and appointing military general Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo as the new prime minister, but these moves have failed to quell tensions. Demonstrators, many of whom are university students, have faced tear gas from police in multiple cities including the capital Antananarivo, Toliara, and Diego Suarez. The unrest, which began over essential service outages, has escalated into a broader challenge to Rajoelina's administration, with the United Nations reporting at least 22 deaths and over 100 injuries, though the government disputes these numbers. The protests highlight deep systemic issues such as inadequate access to electricity for two-thirds of the population, daily power outages lasting over eight hours, and accusations of corruption and mismanagement within the state energy company. This ongoing crisis reflects profound public dissatisfaction with governance and basic service provision in Madagascar.