ANTANANARIVO, MADAGASCAR—Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has announced a “national dialogue” for Wednesday, October 8, 2025, in an attempt to de-escalate a political crisis fueled by a youth-led protest movement. The announcement comes as the president faces a 48-hour ultimatum from demonstrators threatening a national strike if their demands are not met.The widespread unrest, which began on September 25 over chronic water and electricity shortages, has expanded into a significant anti-government movement demanding the president's resignation and sweeping reforms to combat poverty and corruption. According to the United Nations, the protests have so far resulted in at least 22 deaths and over 100 injuries, figures the Malagasy government disputes.
In a dual strategy to address the crisis, President Rajoelina made a significant cabinet overhaul earlier this week. On Monday, October 6, Rajoelina named army General Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo as the new Prime Minister, replacing Christian Ntsay, who was dismissed along with the rest of the cabinet a week prior.
The appointment of General Zafisambo—a career military officer who previously served as Chief of Military Staff to the Prime Minister—is widely seen as an attempt to restore order and public trust. However, the youth-led "Gen Z" protesters, who are driving the demonstrations, have largely dismissed the move as a “cosmetic maneuver,” reiterating their core demand for Rajoelina to step down.
President Rajoelina stated that the national dialogue, set to include spiritual leaders, students, and youth representatives, is intended to "listen to people's concerns and to develop lasting solutions to the issues that affect us.” The outcome of the dialogue will be crucial in determining whether the president can successfully navigate the most significant anti-government challenge his administration has faced in years and avoid the national strike threatened by the Gen Z movement.
