Madagascar’s Gen Z Uprising Reaches Historic Milestone: Protesters Enter May 13 Square Under Military Escort
On October 11, 2025, a pivotal moment unfolded in Antananarivo as thousands of youth-led protesters, backed by defecting soldiers, breached the heavily guarded May 13 Square—the beating heart of Madagascar’s political history—for the first time since the unrest erupted in late September. Local media footage captured dozens of troops from the elite CAPSAT unit (which helped propel President Andry Rajoelina to power in a 2009 coup) abandoning their posts to escort demonstrators into the square, a site synonymous with uprisings like the 2009 crisis that ousted Marc Ravalomanana. This symbolic entry, amid chants and flags, signals deepening military fractures and could tip the scales in a crisis that’s already claimed lives and crippled the economy.
The Spark: From Blackouts to Revolution
The protests, dubbed the “2025 Malagasy protests,” ignited on September 25 over chronic water and electricity shortages affecting millions in a nation where only about a third of the 30 million population has reliable power access. Organized by Gen Z Madagascar—a peaceful, social media-fueled civic group inspired by youth movements in Kenya, Nepal, and Morocco—the demonstrations quickly ballooned into a nationwide call for Rajoelina’s resignation, an end to corruption, and systemic reforms.
Key triggers and escalations:
- Government Response: Rajoelina sacked his energy minister on September 26, dissolved the cabinet on September 29, and appointed military general Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo as prime minister on October 6—moves protesters dismissed as cosmetic, rejecting his “national dialogue” offer and demanding a full apology for security force crackdowns.
- Spread and Tactics: From Antananarivo, the unrest hit six major cities, with students and high schoolers leading marches. Protesters adopted the skull-and-crossbones symbol of global Gen Z revolts, targeting politicians’ homes (though they blame “paid goons” for looting).
- Human Cost: The UN reports at least 22 deaths (including protesters, bystanders, and those caught in post-protest violence) and over 100 injuries from “unnecessary force” by security forces; the government counters with a figure of 12 deaths, calling UN data “rumors.” Curfews blanket cities, flights are disrupted, and the export-driven economy (vanilla, nickel, cobalt) grinds amid strikes.
Military Shift: From Enforcers to Allies?
The escort marks a dramatic turn: Military brass, including the chief of staff and Armed Forces officials, publicly urged dialogue over confrontation, with some units disobeying orders to “back the youth.” This echoes Madagascar’s coup-prone history—Rajoelina himself rose via military support in 2009—and raises fears of a “tipping point” where troops refuse crackdown orders. Presidential spokesperson Lova Ranoromaro warned against a “coup d’état,” stressing it “destroys the future of our children.”
Civil society, including the Council of Christian Churches in Madagascar (FFKM), has called for church-mediated talks to avert “chaos or civil war,” emphasizing basic rights like water and power. UN Secretary-General António Guterres echoed this, expressing sorrow over the “tragic loss” and pushing for de-escalation.
Echoes on X: Global Eyes on a Youth-Led Surge
Real-time buzz on X (formerly Twitter) amplifies the drama, with users hailing the military’s pivot as a “game-changer” while speculating on Rajoelina’s next move—rumors swirl he’s fled the capital. Posts from Reuters and Straits Times rack up thousands of views, blending solidarity (“Gen Z rising!”) with economic worries (e.g., vanilla exports at risk). One analyst notes: “Madagascar’s youth, urbanized and connected, are ripe for upheaval—history repeating with a digital twist.”
What’s Next? A Fragile Path to Dialogue or Deeper Chaos
With protests in their third week, this square entry could force Rajoelina’s hand—will it yield concessions, or spark a full military standoff? U.S. Embassy alerts urge sheltering in place amid curfews and volatility. For Madagascar, long plagued by poverty despite rich resources, this Gen Z wave tests whether youth fury can birth reform or just more instability. Eyes on Antananarivo: Dialogue or deadlock?