Madagascar’s President Dissolves Government Amid Widespread Protests

Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina on Monday evening announced the dissolution of the Government, pledging to appoint a new Prime minister within three days.
In a televised address, he declared the termination of the duties of the Prime minister and Cabinet members, a decision that followed several days of mass protests in major cities, including the capital Antananarivo. The demonstrations were sparked by persistent power outages and water shortages, with some turning violent and resulting in looting and significant economic losses.
Rajoelina acknowledged the growing frustration across the nation, stating that he had “heard the call of young people” and understood their grievances. He admitted the government’s shortcomings in addressing citizens’ basic needs and issued a public apology for the “unmet needs and expectations” of the population. The move to dissolve the government is seen as a decisive step to restore stability and respond to mounting public anger over the deteriorating living conditions.