The Struggle in Madagascar Continues

Featured image: A protester throws a tear gas canister back at the police officers during clashes on October 9 in Antananarivo. Source: Luis TATO/AFP.

Despite the multiple attempts by the Madagascar government of deceiving the people, the mobilizations continue, and thousands are taking to the streets every day, clashing with the repressive forces. The president Andry Rajoelina has promised several changes and made several offers, but he cannot stop the ongoing protests.

President Andry Rajoelina desperately tries to deceive the masses and to win time, but their proposals are met with the people’s anger in the streets. After firing the whole government, the president named the military general, Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo, as a new prime minister on Monday, trying to quell the protests. Rajoelina also asked for one year to “fix the country’s challenges”, promising that if he cannot solve them, he will resign.

The response from the people was clear: thousands took to the streets the very same day, and clashes erupted between them and the repressive forces.

On Tuesday, after these powerful protests, Rajoelina’s next move was to announce plans to hold a “national dialogue”. In a Facebook statement, Rajoelina said the dialogue would be held on Wednesday afternoon and would include, among others, spiritual leaders, students and youth representatives. In several social media accounts, the protesters defined the statement as “a mockery” and they fully rejected to speak with the State, and called for a general strike and new demonstrations:

The protesters also condemned the fierce repression unleashed by the State. According to the estimations by the United Nations, at least 22 people have been murdered and 100 injured since the protests began. Once more it is proven that the government does not want any “dialogue” or a “peaceful solution”, as there is plentiful documentation of how the repressive forces act against the protesters: