13/10/2025
Madagascar’s President Goes Into Hiding Amid Mass Protests
President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar has reportedly gone into hiding after weeks of deadly nationwide protests over poor living conditions and government corruption.
Thousands of young people took to the streets in the capital, Antananarivo, accusing the government of failing to provide basic services like electricity and water.
Security forces that once cracked down on protesters have now joined the demonstrators, refusing to take orders from their superiors. The president’s position has become increasingly unstable.
Rajoelina, 51, first seized power in a 2009 coup, lost elections in 2013, returned to power in 2018, and was re-elected in 2023 -- a vote opposition groups say was rigged.
Despite firing his entire cabinet earlier this month, calls for his resignation continue to grow louder. The UN reports nearly two dozen people have been killed during the unrest.
Madagascar, with a population of about 32 million, faces deep poverty, corruption, and worsening effects of droughts and cyclones that have crippled its agriculture.
As protesters celebrate in the streets, many believe the country is on the verge of major political change.
