Crisis in Madagascar: A Military Man Appointed Prime Minister
Crisis in Madagascar: A military officer has been appointed as Prime Minister in a bid to quell an ongoing political crisis. President Andry Rajoelina made this decision on Monday amidst rising tensions in the streets, where security forces dispersed over a thousand protesters in Antananarivo, resulting in at least one injury.
Just a week after dismissing his government to address the unrest that has engulfed this economically struggling Indian Ocean island, the head of state appointed a largely unknown army general, Ruphin Fortunat Dimbisoa Zafisambo, as Prime Minister. This choice, a former general manager of the Malagasy basketball federation and previously the chief of staff to his predecessor, is seen as a gamble to silence the sound of stun grenades and tear gas in Antananarivo.
The echoes of explosions were heard again on Monday as two processions of hundreds of people marched in a capital still heavily militarized, marking the twelfth day of protests that have plunged the country into a severe political crisis. The collective that ignited the spark, Gen Z, issued a 48-hour "ultimatum" to the president to address their demands, warning of "necessary measures" if their requests are not met.
The protests, which began on September 25, have escalated into a challenge to the current government, specifically targeting President Andry Rajoelina, originally sparked by frustrations over repeated water and electricity outages.
"I experience about 120 hours of power cuts each week at home. We are protesting for everyone's welfare. The president ignores the anger of the people. He does whatever he wants," lamented 21-year-old storekeeper Tommy Fanomezantsoa.
At the Red Cross radio station, the code name "Romeo"—signaling clashes—resonated throughout the afternoon. An AFP reporter witnessed a young man in his twenties being injured by a projectile fired by law enforcement and subsequently hospitalized.
The protest group had called for new demonstrations on Monday, with the Ankatso university campus on the outskirts of the capital as the starting point.
"The future of this country depends on me, you, and all of us," one of the movement's leaders rallied at the microphone.
"With brutality"
"It’s clear that democracy in Madagascar is not respected at all. Moreover, they are violently destroying it," accused another leader, referring to a reported toll of at least 22 dead and around 100 injured announced by the UN last week, a figure denied by the Malagasy authorities.
Another gathering was reported on Monday in the southern city of Toliara, where protesters burned tires on the road, according to local media images.
The head of state, who met with union leaders, private sector representatives, and government officials on Saturday, stated on Monday that he has learned a significant lesson from recent events and aims to focus more on the population's issues.
"We don’t want him to listen to people in his office. We want him to come down to the ground. We will continue until we achieve results," warned Tommy Fanomezantsoa, who has been unemployed since the looting of the supermarket where he worked on the first night of the protests.
In a nearly half-hour address on Monday, President Andry Rajoelina described his new Prime Minister as a man "of integrity, working swiftly, who is open and listens."
"Our enemy is not us Malagasies against each other," he urged. "Our enemy is poverty, corruption, and abuse of power." These are grievances echoed in the streets.
The Christian Council of Churches of Madagascar (FFKM) expressed readiness on Friday to mediate between the government and the protesters.
