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.

Download publication

The post Tradition, Protest and Political Crises in Madagascar appeared first on Africa Research Institute.

In this Policy Voice, former British Ambassador to Madagascar Brian Donaldson argues that Britain should increase existing funding for small grants in developing countries, and commit to supporting independent small grants schemes in countries where it does not have a diplomatic mission. Based on his own experience of managing small grant schemes in Madagascar, he identifies four main advantages of this method of channelling money to the poor:

1. Value for money – the simple structure of small grants schemes ensures low administrative costs, and maximum spending on the ground.
2. Reactivity – small grant schemes are nimble. Unlike large aid agencies, they can react rapicly to local needs.
3. Ownership – projects are initiate, and managed by local communities.
4. Momentum – small grants create a positive dynamic in local communities.

The post Think Small: The example of small grants, in Madagascar appeared first on Africa Research Institute.