President Andry Rajoelina appoints the army general as prime minister

Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina has appointed an army general as its new prime minister in a bid to end youth-led protests against his rule.

He said the nation needed a prime minister “capable of restoring order and the confidence of the people” before appointing General Rufin Fortunat Zavisambo to the position.

Days after the president expressed fears of an attempted coup, the general’s appointment represents a significant militarization of the government and appears to be an attempt by Rajoelina to secure the support of the military at a time of rising tensions.

The protest movement, known as Gen Z Mada, rejected General Zavisambo’s appointment and gave Rajoelina 48 hours to resign.

“As long as Rajoelina remains in power, we will continue the struggle,” General Mada said in a statement.

The protests began on September 25, sparked by popular anger over frequent water and electricity outages, and have since transformed into broader discontent over corruption, high unemployment, and the cost of living crisis.

Last week, Rajoelina fired Prime Minister Christian Ntsay, a civilian, and his entire cabinet in an attempt to calm protesters.

In an announcement at the presidential palace late on Monday evening, Rajoelina announced the appointment of General Zavisambo, saying the prime minister must be a “clean person” and “ready to save Madagascar.”

General Zavisambo was Director of the Military Council in the Prime Minister’s Office until this appointment.

The United Nations said last week that at least 22 people were killed and more than 100 others were injured in the protests, but the government rejected these numbers, describing them as based on “rumors and misleading information.”

On Monday, security forces clashed with demonstrators in several cities, as the unrest on the Indian Ocean island entered its third week.

Several hundred young people, most of them university students, marched from the outskirts of the capital, Antananarivo, to the city centre.

Agence France-Presse reported that a young man was injured and taken to hospital after clashes with security forces who set up barricades.

Clashes also occurred in the southern city of Toliara and the northern city of Diego Suarez.

Former President Marc Ravalomanana, along with other opposition leaders, came out to support the protesters.

He told the BBC that the biggest problem with Rajoelina is that he “doesn’t listen.”

Ravalomanana added that the appointment of General Zavisambo “will not make a difference” because he previously held the position of Prime Minister and was unable to resolve the crisis that struck Madagascar.

He said he opposes military intervention and is ready to return to office if the people want it.

Madagascar has seen multiple uprisings since its independence in 1960, including mass protests in 2009 that forced Ravalomanana to step down and brought Rajoelina to power.

Rajoelina ruled for four years and then returned to power after the 2018 elections. The protests represent the biggest challenge he has faced since his re-election in 2023.

Despite its natural resources, Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world, with 75% of its population living below the poverty line, according to the World Bank.

According to the International Monetary Fund, only about a third of Madagascar’s 30 million people have access to electricity.