Madagascar Government Dissolves After Big Protests
Featured image: A protester throws a tear gas canister back at the riot police during a demonstration near the University of Antananarivo. Source: Zo Andrianjafy/Reuters.
Madagascar’s government was dissolved on Monday following days of protests and clashes in the country, which the United Nations (UN) says left at least 22 people murdered. Thousands protested against power and water outages and the government unleashed deadly repression on the people.
Thousands of people, mostly youth, have taken to the streets since Thursday in protest against widespread poverty and the constant electricity and water cuts. Only 36% of Madagascar’s population has access to electricity, nearly 75% of the population live below the poverty line, and Madagascar is ranked among the most corrupt countries in the world.
The protests began peacefully in the capital Antananarivo on 25 September, but the State’s repressive forces responded with tear gas, arrests and assault on the protesters. Some officers also used live ammunition, as has been documented by videos published on social media:
The government imposed a curfew on Thursday afternoon after the first protests. Reportedly, at least five protesters were murdered on this day. Despite the curfew, demonstrators built burning barricades of tires and thrash, and clashed with the repressive forces. According to local reports, the protesters organized several small groups to get around the police cordons to continue their protest. After the first big protests, demonstrations started to spread to many popular neighborhoods.
The State violence has only increased the anger of the people:
Thousands of protesters returned to the streets in Antananarivo, Antsiranana and other cities on Monday.
Clashes developed at the University of Antananarivo. Students also organized protests in other parts of the country:
The President, Andry Rajoelina, tried to quell the protest by sacking his energy minister for “failing to do his job properly” but the protesters demanded that he too, resign. On Monday the government was dissolved by Rajoelina and a new one will be formed in the upcoming days. Despite the dissolution of the government, the mobilizations continue and the protesters took to the streets again on Tuesday, demanding real change. Many towns and cities witnessed protests and clashes erupted in Antananarivo:
22 people so far have been murdered and more than one hundred have been injured, according to the UN. Meanwhile the State authorities deny such figures without having announced any official number of deaths and injuries.
