Madagascar’s Gen Z activists say they feel betrayed a year after uprising

A year after youth-led protests helped bring down Madagascar’s government, some of the activists at the heart of the movement say the political change they fought for has failed to deliver the reforms they expected.

The demonstrations began on 25 September 2025 amid anger over persistent water and electricity shortages, before developing into a wider challenge to the government of President Andry Rajoelina.

Weeks of unrest reached a turning point when soldiers from the Capsat military unit sided with protesters.

Mr Rajoelina left the country and the military took power, with Capsat commander Colonel Michael Randrianirina sworn in as interim leader on 17 October.

At least 22 people were killed during the unrest, including during a crackdown by the previous government.

For Herizo Andriamanantena, one of the leading figures in the youth movement, the change in power initially brought hope.

“It was really both joy and relief,” the 30 year old agricultural engineer said.

But that optimism did not last.

Mr Andriamanantena says there have been only limited changes since the transition, while many of the reforms activists had demanded remain unfulfilled.

Activists detained

Relations between some protesters and the new authorities deteriorated further in April, when activists returned to the streets to protest against what they described as the slow pace of reform.

Mr Andriamanantena and five other activists were detained.

He says he spent 13 days in police custody after being accused of endangering state security and having contact with people allegedly planning another coup.

“You fought for your country but you’re treated like a criminal,” he said of his detention.

Another activist, Nomena Ratsihorimanana, 36, says he was violently arrested after an SUV struck his motorcycle.

He alleges that he was beaten and threatened while being detained.

“They put guns in our mouths, they threatened to kill us,” he said.

He was released after five days.

Lawyer Maromanana Aliarivelo says charges relating to state security have repeatedly been used against government critics in Madagascar.

He described such accusations as a longstanding method of silencing dissent.

‘It’s a betrayal’

For some activists, the arrests have raised uncomfortable parallels with the government they helped remove.

“It’s thanks to us taking to the streets that they’re in power today,” said Felana Andriatahina, a 32-year old eco construction entrepreneur.

“It’s a betrayal.”

Ms Andriatahina was part of the collective behind the Gen Z Madagascar Facebook page, which helped organise the protests.

At its peak, the page had about 200,000 followers. It was hacked and later deleted shortly before the military sided with protesters.

The movement took inspiration from youth-led protests overseas and adopted the Gen Z name, although some of its leading members are older than the generation’s commonly used age range.

Madagascar has a particularly young population. About 70% of its people are under 30, according to Unicef.

But those who joined the protests were largely young, urban and educated, and the movement was never politically uniform.

Ms Andriatahina compared it to “a box of coloured pencils” made up of different shades but belonging to the same collection.

Those differences have become more visible since the change in government.

Political scientist Ketakandriana Rafitoson says several groups now claim to represent the Gen Z movement, making it increasingly difficult to identify a single leadership.

One faction has publicly backed Col Randrianirina, who has promised elections by the end of 2027.

Others remain critical of the military-led administration.

A divided anniversary

Those divisions are likely to overshadow events marking the first anniversary of the uprising.

Official commemorations in the capital, Antananarivo, are expected to include a march, the unveiling of a commemorative monument and an address by Col Randrianirina at May 13 Square.

The square has long been associated with political protest in Madagascar.

But some of those who helped organise last year’s demonstrations are wary of the government taking ownership of their movement.

“If it’s something that’s being used again, it’s pointless,” said Elliot Randriamandrato, 32, who helped administer the original Gen Z Madagascar Facebook page.

The anniversary comes at an uncertain moment for the movement.

A year ago, its supporters celebrated the end of Mr Rajoelina’s government as an opportunity for political change.

Today, some of the same activists say the tactics they once protested against are being used by the authorities who replaced it.

And while Madagascar’s Gen Z movement helped reshape the country’s politics, the question now facing its activists is whether it can maintain pressure for reform after losing the unity that propelled it onto the national stage.