Madagascar has become the newest entry in Africa's concerning wave of military coups, joining a growing list of former French colonies where armed forces have seized power. The 2025 takeover marks a significant shift from previous political transitions in the island nation, as it places the country under direct military governance rather than a civilian-led transitional arrangement.
The ousted leader, Andry Rajoelina, first ascended to the presidency in 2009 amid massive popular demonstrations. At just 34 years old, he became Africa's youngest head of state at the time. His political career has been marked by controversy, including his temporary resignation in 2014 and subsequent return to power through elections in 2018. His reelection in 2023 was heavily disputed, with opposition parties alleging systematic electoral fraud and questioning his eligibility after he obtained French citizenship in 2014—a move that sparked significant debate about national loyalty and sovereignty.
The coup's execution followed a familiar pattern from 2009, when the elite military unit known as CAPSAT (the Personnel Administration and Technical and Administrative Services Corps of the army) sided with demonstrators against the government. However, this latest intervention differs fundamentally in its outcome. While the 2009 uprising eventually led to a negotiated political settlement, the 2025 transition has installed military leadership directly at the helm of state power, raising questions about the future of democratic institutions in Madagascar.
Economic desperation served as the primary fuel for the popular uprising. Despite the country's abundant mineral resources and agricultural potential, Madagascar remains one of the world's poorest nations. The World Bank's 2024 data reveals that approximately 80 percent of the 30 million inhabitants live below the poverty line. The demographic profile compounds these challenges, with a median age of just 19 years, creating a bulging youth population with limited opportunities.
Corruption has systematically undermined economic progress. Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index shows Madagascar's dramatic decline from rank 118 in 2012 to 140 in 2024, indicating worsening governance and institutional decay. This erosion of public trust created fertile ground for unrest, as citizens grew increasingly frustrated with the gap between the country's natural wealth and their daily hardships.
The immediate catalyst for the demonstrations was a series of prolonged power outages and water shortages in the capital city, Antananarivo. What began as spontaneous protests against failing basic services quickly evolved into a broader political movement demanding systemic change. The inability to provide reliable electricity and water became a powerful symbol of government incompetence and indifference to ordinary citizens' suffering.
Generation Z emerged as the driving force behind the protests. These urban youth, facing bleak economic prospects and political marginalization, mobilized through social media platforms to coordinate demonstrations and share information. The online movement "Gen Z Mada" exemplifies how digital natives are reshaping political activism in Madagascar and beyond. Their tactics mirror youth-led movements in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Morocco, and Angola, where young activists have challenged entrenched power structures using digital tools and shared cultural symbols.
One particularly striking symbol that has appeared across these global youth movements is the straw-hat "Jolly Roger" flag from the popular anime One Piece. For these activists, it represents a rebellious spirit against corrupt and oppressive systems, demonstrating how digital culture transcends borders and unites disparate protest movements under common iconography.
The anti-French sentiment, while less pronounced than in other former French colonies like Mali or Niger, has nevertheless played a role in Madagascar's political turbulence. Rajoelina's acquisition of French citizenship became a focal point for nationalist critics who questioned his commitment to Madagascar's sovereignty. This sentiment aligns with broader regional trends where former colonial powers face increasing scrutiny and popular opposition.
The timeline of events accelerated rapidly. On September 25, youth demonstrations over utility failures began spreading across Antananarivo. Security forces attempted to suppress the protests through crackdowns and curfews, but this only intensified public anger. As the movement gained momentum, CAPSAT's decision to align with the demonstrators proved decisive, culminating in the military's seizure of key government installations and the announcement of a new transitional authority.
This coup places Madagascar within a broader pattern of military interventions across Africa, particularly in Francophone countries. The phenomenon reflects deep-seated governance failures, economic stagnation, and popular disillusionment with democratic processes that many perceive as serving only elite interests. However, each case carries unique local dynamics—in Madagascar's instance, the combination of extreme poverty, youth bulge, and immediate service delivery failures created a perfect storm.
The international community now faces difficult questions about how to respond. While military coups typically trigger sanctions and diplomatic isolation, the popular support for Madagascar's takeover complicates traditional reactions. The demonstrators' demands for better governance and economic justice resonate with legitimate grievances that external actors cannot ignore.
Looking ahead, Madagascar's trajectory will depend on whether the military leadership can translate popular support into effective governance. The country's youth, having toppled one government, will likely remain politically engaged and demanding. Their use of social media and global cultural symbols suggests a generation that thinks beyond national borders and expects accountability and transparency.
The mineral wealth and agricultural potential that have long been touted as Madagascar's path to prosperity remain largely untapped for the benefit of ordinary citizens. Transforming these resources into broad-based development will require institutional reforms far beyond what any single political transition can achieve. The new military authorities must confront the corruption and inefficiency that have plagued previous governments while managing expectations of a young, impatient population.
Madagascar's experience offers crucial lessons about the intersection of economic crisis, demographic pressure, and digital-age activism. When basic services fail in a context of extreme inequality and youth unemployment, technical problems become political flashpoints. The ability of Generation Z to mobilize rapidly through social media, combined with symbolic expressions of resistance drawn from global popular culture, represents a new paradigm in African politics.
As the situation evolves, the world will be watching whether Madagascar's latest transition can break the cycle of poverty and poor governance that has defined its post-independence history, or whether it simply represents another chapter in the country's turbulent political saga.