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Madagascar: Under pressure from protesters, the president appoints an army general as prime minister
Facing growing protests and political unrest, Madagascar’s president, Andry Rajoelina, announced on Monday the appointment of army general Ruphin Fortunat Dimbisoa Zafisambo as the country’s new prime minister.
The decision comes amid a wave of demonstrations that have shaken the capital, Antananarivo, for nearly two weeks. Security forces once again dispersed crowds of over a thousand protesters on Monday, with at least one person injured.
The unrest began on September 25 as citizens expressed frustration over recurring water and power cuts, but it has since evolved into a broader challenge to Rajoelina’s leadership. Protesters accuse the government of corruption, poor governance, and a lack of concern for the population’s hardships.
Zafisambo, a largely unknown figure to the public, previously served as director of the cabinet for a former prime minister and was also general manager of Madagascar’s basketball federation. His appointment follows the dismissal of the previous government, a move that failed to calm public anger.
A youth-led movement known as “Gen Z” has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the president to meet their demands, warning that further action will follow if he does not respond.
During a televised address, Rajoelina described his new prime minister as a man of “integrity, openness, and efficiency,” while calling for unity. “Our real enemies are poverty, corruption, and abuse of power,” he declared. However, protesters say they will continue their mobilization “until real change is achieved.”
