Madagascar’s president, Andry Rajoelina, has dissolved his government in response to mass demonstrations over power and water shortages that turned deadly, with the United Nations reporting that at least 22 people have been killed and more than 100 others were injured.

The protests, which began last week and continued into Monday, were led largely by young people, angry over deteriorating living conditions in the capital, Antananarivo.

Experts say they represent the most serious challenge to Rajoelina’s authority since his re-election in 2023, and the largest wave of unrest the island nation has seen in years.

Crowds gathered at Antananarivo’s main university on Monday, carrying placards and singing the national anthem, before attempting to march into the city centre, according to footage broadcast by the local channel 2424.MG.

Police fired tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, as authorities enforced a dusk-to-dawn curfew that has been in place since last week. Security forces have also used rubber bullets to try to quell the unrest.

Looting has been reported at supermarkets, appliance shops and banks across the capital of 1.4 million people. Homes belonging to politicians have also been attacked in recent days.

The president promises dialogue

In a televised address on Monday, Rajoelina acknowledged the public anger and apologised for his government’s failings. “We acknowledge and apologise if members of the government have not carried out the tasks assigned to them,” he said on state broadcaster Televiziona Malagasy (TVM).

The president promised measures to support businesses that suffered losses during the unrest and said he wanted to open a channel of communication with young people. “I understand the anger, the sadness, and the difficulties caused by power cuts and water supply problems. I heard the call, I felt the suffering, I understood the impact on daily life,” he added.

The demonstrations have been driven by frustration at years of economic hardship. Madagascar, an island nation off Africa’s southeast coast, is one of the region’s poorest countries.

About 75 percent of its 30 million people lived below the poverty line in 2022, according to the World Bank.

Many protesters blame Rajoelina’s government for failing to improve conditions, particularly as frequent power outages and water shortages have disrupted daily life.

Casualties and disputes over figures

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said that casualties included protesters and bystanders killed by security forces, as well as people who died in looting and violence carried out by gangs unconnected to the demonstrations.

Madagascar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected those figures, insisting they were not based on official data but on “rumours or misinformation”.

Organisers say they have taken inspiration from youth-led movements in Kenya, Nepal and Morocco. Demonstrators in Antananarivo waved a flag first used in Nepal earlier this month, when protests forced the country’s prime minister to resign.

The movement in Madagascar has been largely coordinated on social media, particularly Facebook, echoing similar online mobilisation seen in Kenya last year, when sustained demonstrations pushed the government to abandon proposed tax legislation. (Al Jazeera)

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The case against eight Sri Lankan fishermen who are detained in Madagascar for engaging in illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities will be taken up for hearing today (04 Aug).

According to the Sunday Times, the multi-day fishing vessel, which had departed from the Wellamankara fishing harbour on April 25, was seized by Madagascar’s maritime patrol on June 2 within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). 

At the time of seizure, it was reported that the crew failed to produce valid entry documents or fishing licenses and had tampered with navigation data and the Automatic Identification System (AIS). The vessel was also not flying a national flag at the time of its capture, complicating identification.

The Malagasy Police had also discovered 16,125 kilograms of frozen shark heads, 1,618 kilograms of dried shark fillets, 23 kilograms of dried shark fins, and 4 kilograms of dried shark gills aboard. The shark species are listed under Appendix II of the CITES agreement.

A previous court proceeding in Madagascar, conducted in French, was postponed to today due to the unavailability of a Sinhala-French translator. 

It is reported that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stepped in to provide a Sinhala-French interpretation for the upcoming court hearing to assist the fishermen who are detained in Madagascar.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its Consular Affairs Division and in coordination with the Sri Lanka High Commission in Seychelles, accredited to Madagascar, has been actively engaged in the matter. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lankan government has initiated diplomatic intervention to secure the release of eight fishermen detained in Madagascar for engaging in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities.

Deputy Minister of Fisheries Rathna Gamage said the multi-day fishing vessel was seized by maritime patrol on June 2 within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The vessel had departed from the Wellamankara fishing harbour on April 25.

Authorities in Madagascar reported that the crew failed to produce valid entry documents or fishing licenses and had tampered with navigation data and the Automatic Identification System (AIS). The vessel was not flying a national flag at the time of its capture, complicating identification.

The Malagasy Police discovered 16,125 kilograms of frozen shark heads, 1,618 kilograms of dried shark fillets, 23 kilograms of dried shark fins, and 4 kilograms of dried shark gills aboard. The shark species are listed under Appendix II of the CITES agreement.

Sri Lankan officials said the vessel owner failed to inform authorities or the fishermen’s families, and allegedly pressured families not to report the incident.

Court proceedings in Madagascar, conducted in French, were postponed to August 4 due to the unavailability of a Sinhala-French translator. Deputy Minister Gamage confirmed discussions with the Sri Lankan Embassy in Seychelles to arrange interpretation support.

The Department of Fisheries and Ministry of Foreign Affairs are actively working to expedite the release of the fishermen, officials said. (Newswire)

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