Author Tim Cocks
Antananarivo (Reuters) -thousands of young protesters singing vitriral slogans against Madagascar president Andry Rajoelin in Antananarivo, were clear about what they wanted to do.
“He has to quit. Immediately,” said Angie Rakoto, a 21-year-old law and political student this week, a demonstration called May 13, 1972. On behalf of the youth -led revolution, which began the first President of Independence Philbert Tsiranan.
When asked what should be next, she shrugged.
“Honestly, I can’t even imagine what should replace it,” she said, when the crowd cheered “Rajelina, get out!” Behind her. “But it must be something that is here for the people for Madagay, not themselves.”
Rakoto and thousands of Gen Z protesters who held weeks demonstrations against Rajoelina smell a victory as the president escaped from French military aircraft.
Although Rajoelina did not officially retreat, the National Assembly on Tuesday accused him, and the army filled the void to take over power, the army colonel who led the protesters who supported the protesters said.
Gen Z anger promotes protest
Madagascar’s unrest in the last few weeks seems to be characteristic of youth -led protest movements around the world: demonstrators are craving change, but they do not know what it will look like.
What began as an uprising against chronic rule and lack of water on the island of South Africa last month was rapidly used by the president withdrawn. It gained momentum over the weekend, when an elite military unit, which in 2009 He brought Rajoelina to power, supported the protest.
One of her commanders, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, said to a fun crowd, and said on Tuesday on national radio that the army dissolves most of the institutions and manages.
Society’s anger reflected similar demonstrations in different countries such as Morocco, Peru and Nepal, where young people marched to decipher inequality, unemployment, living expenses, collapsing public services and corruption.
In the protests, the participants in Madagascar used a flag depicting a skull with a straw hat from the Japanese manga series “One Piece”, the usual symbol of Gen Z demonstrations around the world.
Many believe that they are ruled by an elite, mainly consisting of older men who have either ignored their problems or worsened them with feathers their nests.
Without a leader for the protest, the army plays a role in turning tables against Rajoelin, it seemed increasingly likely to take responsibility.
It looks like it is worried about many protesters – despite the fact that after the downturn of Tsiranan, two consecutive military leaders were engaged in the economy.
“A military person, if he cares about the area, all is well,” said Fanazy Razafimandimby, a 30-year-old mechanic on the square, located in colonial buildings between two steep hills.
“This is a transition. We look forward to someone who can correct things.”
When asked what it might be, he said, “I don’t mean specific,” are the answers of dozens of other protesters interviewed by Reuters.
An island state that was in poverty
Madagascar remains one of the poorest countries in the world, even compared to most of the continent’s African. Three -quarters of people live below the World Bank Poverty Line – $ 2.15 a day – a proportion that has barely changed in four decades.
The average income is $ 600 a year. The Indian Ocean Island, with an average age of 19 years, occupies the UN Lower of the Human Development Index, the following a wide welfare metric.
Some of those who gathered in the protest were wearing torn, dust -cut clothes, and children without shoes ran between them by rubbing their stomach and stretching their palms to pray for change.
Many Madagass have accused the former colonial master France for their problems, and Dajoelina has repeatedly condemned the dual citizenship and perceived closeness to France by young people who have a microphone protesting.
The 30 -year -old Mamisoa Ravonsinirin initially knows how angry people about the power supply of power: it works at the Call Center by lodging complaints on behalf of the national electricity supplier.
“You have to calm them down. I say things will get better,” he said, hiking the street along with protesters holding the Malagas flag. “But I know the reality.”
His own house was not a ruthless lack of power and water, and with his 700,000 arables ($ 150) a monthly salary – even with a master’s degree – he fought against rising food prices.
The Madagascar economy depends on the goods: the vanilla, from which it grows two -thirds of the global supply; Minerals such as nickel, sapphire and ilmenite – pigment used for bleached things such as plastics and toothpastes; seafood; and textiles.
The unambiguous governments failed to cause welfare from these valued goods, and the promise of Rajoelina was the main theme of the protest.
“We ask for work, ask for electricity, please rice we can afford and what do we get? Damnated languages,” said 26 -year -old Andre Hassana, 26, a travel guide specialized by Anglophone tourists.
When asked if the Rajoelina substitute could be just as bad, he replied, “Not this time. Malagay people are good learners. We will not tolerate it again.”
(TIM COCKS Message; Edited by Silvia Aloisi and Andrew Cawthorne)