Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina Flees Country Amid Gen Z-Led Protests and Military Defection
Antananarivo, Madagascar — President Andry Rajoelina fled Madagascar on Sunday, October 12, 2025, amid escalating anti-government protests led primarily by Generation Z youth, coupled with a critical loss of military support. This development has plunged the nation into a significant political crisis as an elite military unit, previously loyal to Rajoelina, sided with the demonstrators demanding his resignation.
The protests began on September 25 in response to shortages of water and electricity but quickly expanded to encompass broader grievances such as corruption, poor governance, and deficient public services affecting many Malagasy citizens. These movements reflect a wider trend of youth-led uprisings challenging entrenched political elites in various countries worldwide. The elite military group CAPSAT, whose backing was crucial to Rajoelina’s rise to power in a 2009 coup, publicly declared solidarity with the protestors. They took control of the military command and appointed a new army chief, further isolating the president. On the same day, a faction within the gendarmerie also aligned with the protestors, consolidating the government's crumbling security apparatus.
According to reports, Rajoelina was evacuated from Madagascar aboard a French military Casa aircraft after being transported to Sainte Marie Island by helicopter. French President Emmanuel Macron commented that while he could not confirm France's role in the evacuation, Paris was closely monitoring the situation and urged respect for constitutional order. Rajoelina’s televised address on Monday from an undisclosed safe location confirmed his departure from Madagascar, but he refused to resign, asserting that he had taken measures to protect his life and avoid a bloodbath. He characterised the crisis as an illegal power grab orchestrated by certain groups and emphasised the need for dialogue and constitutional respect to resolve the unrest.
The president's office reported that his speech was delayed due to armed factions attempting to seize the state broadcaster. Thousands of protestors filled the capital's main square, Antananarivo’s May 13 Square, celebrating and calling loudly for Rajoelina's resignation. Protestors displayed symbols linked to Generation Z activism, including the now-global anime skull-and-bones banner, and chanted vociferous demands for change.
In a move to assert authority despite his physical absence from the country, Rajoelina announced the dissolution of the National Assembly and appointed a military general as the new Prime Minister. The Senate also undertook changes in its leadership amidst the turmoil.
At least 22 people have died in clashes between protestors and security forces since the unrest began, highlighting the deadly stakes in the conflict. The situation places Madagascar at a precarious crossroads, as the government faces mounting pressure to address the demands of a youthful population increasingly united against chronic socio-economic challenges and perceived political corruption.
