Madagascar President Appoints Army General as Prime Minister Amid Widening Protests

President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar has named army General Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo as the new prime minister of the country after weeks of rising protests against continual electricity and water cuts. It was announced on Monday, one week after Rajoelina had dissolved his government in a bid to quell an increased unrest by the population.

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Christian Ntsay, who was sacked together with the entire cabinet, is replaced by General Zafisambo as a result of the political reshuffle by the president. Zafisambo was the director of the military cabinet in the prime minister office before taking up his new office.

President Rajoelina in a statement before the announcement stated that the country needed a leader who was capable of restoring order and regaining the trust of the people. His additional point of view was that resolving the chronic power and water crises in the country was the main role of Zafisambo; this has been part of the recent protests.

These changes in leadership notwithstanding, protests have rocked the Indian Ocean island nation on its third week. Citizens, among them the university students, have been in the streets of the capital city Antananarivo, and other major cities, and are demanding better living conditions and in some cases, they are demanding the president to resign.

Law enforcement agencies have been very aggressive in dealing with the disturbances. On Monday, security service deployed tear gas to get the people out of Antananarivo and local television footage captured fights between the demonstrators and the police in the southern city of Toliara or the northern city of Diego Suarez.

The present wave of protests, which was inspired by other “Gen Z” demonstrations in Kenya and Nepal, is the most significant demonstration of opposition that has occurred in Madagascar in years. The outburst of the protesters is not only related to the shortage of the moment but also with the frustration rooted in the masses of poverty, unemployment and corruption in the government.

Nevertheless, Madagascar is a poor country in the world despite being endowed with huge reserves of minerals, fertile land as well as rich biodiversity. The per capita income of the country according to the World Bank data has reduced by almost 45 years since it became an independent nation in 1960 after breaking away with France.

The United Nations indicated that more than 22 and more than 100 people were killed and injured respectively since the protest broke out but the government refuted these figures. Rajoelina made the address to the country on Friday, claiming that he was ready to hear the demands of the people but refuted the increasing demands to step down.

The president office spokesperson subsequently informed Reuters that the protests were being used by political individuals who aimed at destabilizing the country. The spokesperson further indicated that the president was still determined to dialogue and come up with expedient measures to enhance the lives of the citizens.

In the meantime, the presidency said that Rajoelina had held meetings with many of the civil society groups as over the weekend, but nothing was issued regarding the talks. Other organizations, nevertheless, refused to come, saying they were not guaranteed the release of the arrested demonstrators and the freedom to protest without interference.

It is now the ultimate challenge of General Zafisambo to rebuild necessary levels of social services as well as rebuild social confidence in a government that is under considerable pressure. His appointment is a turning point in the life of the economic hardship and ongoing protests–both to the government of Rajoelina, and the very stability of Madagascar