Tradition, Protest and Political Crises in Madagascar

INTRODUCTION

by Edward Paice

On 25 September 2025 tens of thousands of young protestors took to the streets in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, and other cities. University students were the most numerous, but many others also took part. Among the chief catalysts for discontent were the lamentable performance of Jirama, the national water and electricity utility. Permanent shortages and ever-longer outages had made life on student campuses – as well as conditions for businesses and the wider population – intolerable. Bad governance, corruption and nepotism, perceived as underlying causes of Jirama’s incompetence, came equally under fire.

The Gen Z Mada protests were as distinctive as they were similar to those in other countries, including Nepal, Bangladesh and Morocco. All relied on imaginative and ingenious uses of social media and intelligence, but equally the principal grievances and catalysts differed country by country. In Madagascar, notably, the protestors ousted President Rajoelina and his government.

The individuals coordinating and leading such protests are seldom interviewed at length about their motivations and the underlying grievances of younger generations. Snippets are all there is space for in press reports and the attention of outsiders quickly moves on. The purpose of this publication is to record the thoughts and actions of a leading figure in greater detail. It is unlikely that Gen Z protests are simply a phase, given the extraordinary youthfulness of populations in so many countries in Asia and Africa. In Madagascar specifically, politics remain volatile. The events of September and October 2025 cannot be closed off. In this context, the reflections of Elliot Randriamandrato are pertinent. As he explains, he took to the streets simply to show his support for the protests. However, he was quickly recruited by their coordinating group to be an official spokesperson. His perspective on events of late 2025 – and since – is instructive; and his opinions about how Madagascar’s pre-colonial history demonstrably affects contemporary politics, the structure of the economy, relations with foreign businesses and much else besides are shared by many of his generation. Gen Z Mada may have dispersed for the time being, but all eyes are firmly on the actions and intentions of the transitional government headed by Colonel Michaël Randrianirina.

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