Madagascar is witnessing a transformative period of protest. Termed not just a revolution but a wake up call from youngsters, the Gen Z movement symbolizes a nonviolent transfer of political control to the Malagasy people, notably the youth. Aware of the power of the local youth, President Rajoelina’s army opened fire on local citizens killing over 20 citizens of the blessed nation of Madagascar.
The catalyst for this uprising was due to electricity and water cut throughout Antananarivo and the villages of the island. However, underlying this action were years of marginalization, intergenerational discontent, and the systematic exclusion of youth from formal governance. Beyond a call for leadership change, the movement sought symbolic, political, and epistemic acknowledgment, challenging the entrenched structures of power justification.
Protest chants like “Mialy Rajoelina” and “We are the future” were more than mere words; they signified a collective refusal of political marginalization. This pivotal moment centered on redefining sovereignty as a construct crafted and voiced by the people, particularly the younger generation.
At the heart of the 2025 uprising was the concept of relative deprivation, where individuals feel entitled to more than they receive, leading to deep-seated frustration, especially in the face of heightened expectations. Madagascar youth, a significant demographic, experienced a stark contrast between their global connectivity, political awareness, and social cohesion, and the stark realities of unemployment, exclusion, and lack of agency in decision-making processes. The president’s clan and advisors are also under severe pressure with tensions in the capital as they facilitated a lot of business to the elites.
The resistance in 2025 is not solely a political upheaval but a symbolic rebellion against the visual and symbolic representations of state authority. Through semiotics, the study of signs and symbols, we can grasp the profound undercurrents of this resistance. The rejection of not just Rajoelina regime but also the visual elements that upheld it exemplified a reclaiming of power codes. Several international intelligence firms stated that it’s a matter of days before President Rajoelina falls and it is better for him to resign.
