Madagascar's president has said he will dissolve his government, following days of youth-led protests over longstanding water and power cuts.
We acknowledge and apologise if members of the government have not carried out the tasks assigned to them, Andry Rajoelina said in a televised national address on Monday.
Thousands of predominantly Gen Z demonstrators have taken to the streets in cities across Madagascar since Thursday, under the rallying cry of We want to live, not survive. The UN's human rights chief condemned the unnecessary force used by security forces to quell the unrest, with at least 22 people dead and 100 others injured.
Peaceful protests began in the capital Antananarivo, but escalated to violence, leading to a dusk-to-dawn curfew. Rajoelina had previously sacked the energy minister, yet protesters demanded his resignation too. Rajoelina has called for applications for a new premier to be submitted over the next three days and expressed a wish to hold talks with young people.
Following the protests, the head of the UNCHR expressed shock at the violent crackdown by security forces and urged for the immediate release of detained protesters. The country has faced multiple uprisings since its independence in 1960, with these recent developments marking a significant challenge for Rajoelina since his re-election in 2023.
We acknowledge and apologise if members of the government have not carried out the tasks assigned to them, Andry Rajoelina said in a televised national address on Monday.
Thousands of predominantly Gen Z demonstrators have taken to the streets in cities across Madagascar since Thursday, under the rallying cry of We want to live, not survive. The UN's human rights chief condemned the unnecessary force used by security forces to quell the unrest, with at least 22 people dead and 100 others injured.
Peaceful protests began in the capital Antananarivo, but escalated to violence, leading to a dusk-to-dawn curfew. Rajoelina had previously sacked the energy minister, yet protesters demanded his resignation too. Rajoelina has called for applications for a new premier to be submitted over the next three days and expressed a wish to hold talks with young people.
Following the protests, the head of the UNCHR expressed shock at the violent crackdown by security forces and urged for the immediate release of detained protesters. The country has faced multiple uprisings since its independence in 1960, with these recent developments marking a significant challenge for Rajoelina since his re-election in 2023.
