ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — General Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo, recently appointed as Madagascar’s prime minister, has sharply condemned the “excessive use of force” by security forces and protestors alike, following three weeks of escalating unrest triggered by shortages of electricity and water across the island.
Zafisambo — who assumed his position in the midst of a crisis — vowed he would resign if he failed to resolve the country’s power challenges within a year.
His promise underscores the urgency of restoring stability and basic services in a country grappling with growing public frustration.
The demonstrations began as peaceful protests over persistent water and electricity outages, but soon swelled into sustained calls for President Andry Rajoelina to step down, issue a public apology, and dissolve both the Senate and the electoral commission.
In response, protestors erected barricades and clashed with security forces, who retaliated with tear gas.
According to United Nations estimates, at least 22 people were killed and over 100 were injured in the early days of the protests. The government, in contrast, puts the death toll at 12, attributing many fatalities to looting and targeted violence.
The UN Office of Human Rights has joined international calls urging government forces to restrain themselves, avoid unnecessary force, and uphold human rights even as they defend public order.
Zafisambo’s appointment followed a sudden dissolution of the previous government. In tandem with the change, President Rajoelina also installed a new defence and security minister — a clear signal of intent to reset the state’s handling of security and civil unrest.
By tying his tenure to solving the energy crisis, Zafisambo has raised the political stakes. Failure to deliver may not just prompt his exit; it could deepen public distrust of state institutions already riven by tension, economic hardship, and institutional fragility.
Madagascar’s economy leans heavily on exports — vanilla, nickel, textiles, seafood — making the political and service shocks particularly dangerous. Prolonged outages not only amplify public anger but also threaten investor confidence and export performance in key sectors.
Analysts warn that without swift stabilization, what began as service protests could morph into broader demands for governance reform or power transitions.
The coming months will test whether Madagascar’s leadership can pivot toward responsive governance or further spiral into confrontation.
For now, Zafisambo faces a delicate balancing act: restoring essential services, containing civil unrest, and asserting legitimacy — all under the watch of a public that has grown impatient and emboldened.
