Andry Rajoelina, Madagascar’s president, has asked citizens to give him one year to fix the country’s worsening crises, promising to resign if he fails.
Rajoelina made the pledge during a town-hall-style meeting at his presidential palace in Antananarivo, where he met with groups of supporters and members of the public. The event, broadcast live on national television, was part of his recent effort to “listen more” to the people amid mounting protests and discontent.
“I don’t want flattery. I want to hear the truth,” he told the audience. “It’s the people who kept telling me that everything was fine who are responsible for our current situation.”
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The president’s comments come at a tense time for the Indian Ocean island nation, which has been rocked by protests since September 25. The demonstrations began over chronic power and water shortages but have grown into wider anger over corruption, unemployment, and the rising cost of living.
The main group behind the demonstrations — a movement known as Gen Z Mada — has dismissed the president’s call for dialogue, saying it refuses to engage with a government that, in its view, “represses, assaults, and humiliates” young people demanding their rights.
“We refuse the president’s invitation to talks,” the group wrote on its Facebook page. “We will not engage in dialogue with a regime that represses, assaults, and humiliates its youth in the streets.”
Gen Z Mada has called for new protests on Thursday, maintaining pressure on Rajoelina’s administration despite a recent decline in turnout on the streets.
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In his address, Rajoelina focused heavily on Madagascar’s chronic electricity shortages, a major trigger of public anger. He said ongoing energy projects would soon add 265 megawatts to the national grid — a move he claims will end the blackouts that plague the capital.
“I swear that if power cuts persist in the capital within a year, I will resign,” he declared.
The president’s remarks appear aimed at rebuilding public trust after weeks of political unrest and deadly clashes. According to the United Nations, at least 22 people have been killed and dozens injured during confrontations between protesters and security forces, figures the authorities dispute.
In a surprise move last week, Rajoelina dismissed his entire cabinet, replacing the prime minister with an army general. The decision, intended to signal a fresh start, has instead deepened scepticism among his critics, who view it as an attempt to tighten military control.
Despite the turmoil, life in most parts of Antananarivo remains largely normal, though some neighbourhoods continue to see a heavy police presence and roadblocks.
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Rajoelina, who first came to power in 2009 after leading protests that ousted then-president Marc Ravalomanana, faces a familiar challenge: managing a restless population demanding change, transparency, and relief from hardship.
For now, he has given himself a clear deadline, one year to deliver results or leave office. Whether the people will grant him that time remains uncertain.
