Madagascar's Gen Z Rises: Power Cuts, Protests, and the Fight for Justice

Madagascar on the Brink: When Basic Needs Fuel a Revolution

Antananarivo, Madagascar is shaking. For too long, our generation has watched silently as essential services crumble, but no more. Daily life for countless Malagasy citizens means enduring up to 12 hours of electricity cuts. Imagine trying to learn, work, or even just live when the lights go out for half the day. This isn't just an inconvenience; it's a systemic failure, and Gen Z is not having it. What started as peaceful demonstrations against crippling electricity and water shortages has escalated, tragically claiming at least seven lives.

Last Thursday, tens of thousands of students and young workers bravely defied a protest ban, taking to the streets of Antananarivo. Their demands were simple: restore stability, ensure access to basic services, and respect their right to a future. But instead of dialogue, they met resistance. Police forces responded with rubber bullets and tear gas, attempting to quell a movement born from sheer desperation. "We have about 12 hours of power cuts a day. You hear that noise? Students are being attacked," recounts Lala Herizo, a student and protester, highlighting the brutal reality and the month-long disruption to their education.

Chaos, Courage, and the Call for Accountability

The situation took a dark turn with widespread pillaging and vandalism across Antananarivo, where cars were burned, a cable car vandalized, and dozens of shops looted. Imagine the despair of Sitraka, a restaurant employee, who arrived to find thieves still ransacking her workplace. "They had knives and threatened us... They told us they were poor, that they had nothing and were forced to steal." Yet, amidst the chaos, the spirit of solidarity shines through. On Friday, many protesters returned to the streets, not to protest, but to help clean up the damage. Tolotra, another Gen Z protester, articulated a crucial point: "I support peaceful protests... Many demonstrators accuse security forces of repressing the population instead of protecting them from looters." This sentiment underscores a critical failure of governance: when the protectors become perceived as part of the problem, trust erodes completely.

In a bid to calm the unrest, President Andry Rajoelina fired the Minister of Energy, but the movement, aptly named "Gen Z," is far from satisfied. They've called for another massive march this Saturday, from the University of Antananarivo to Ambohijatovo, pushing forward despite the president's condemnation of "pillaging and destabilization." This isn't about mere destruction; it's about a generation demanding their fundamental rights, refusing to be silenced, and cleaning up the mess left by a system that has failed them. We stand with our peers in Madagascar, amplifying their voices and their relentless pursuit of justice.