President Andri Raoelina Apanision Army General as Prime Minister

Madagascar President Andri Raoelina has appointed Army General as a New Prime Minister in an attempt to end the protests led by the youth against his rule.

He said the nation needed a prime minister “able to restore order and people’s confidence” before appointing Gen Rufin Fortunat Zafisambo to the post.

The coming days after the president expressed fears of an attempt to coup, the general’s appointment marked significant militarization to the government and seems to be Raji’s attempt to provide the army support at a time of increased tension.

The protest movement, known as the Z Mada Gen, rejected the appointment of Gen Zafisambo and gave Rajiina for 48 hours to resign.

“While Rayolina remains in power, we will continue to fight,” says Gen Z Mada in a statement.

The protests began on September 25, caused by public anger by repeated cuts of water and electricity, and have since become greater dissatisfaction with corruption, high unemployment and the crisis of life.

Last week, Raoelina rejected Prime Minister Christian NTsai, a civilian and his entire cabinet in an attempt to put protesters.

In a statement at the Presidential Palace at the end of Monday, Rayolina announced the appointment of Gen. Zafisambo, saying that the prime minister should be “someone clean” and “ready to save Madagascar.”

Gen. Zafishabo was the director of the Prime Minister’s office in the Prime Minister’s office until this appointment.

Last week, the UN said at least 22 people had been killed and more than 100 were injured in protests, but the government rejected the numbers, describing them as “rumors and misinformation”.

On Monday, security forces collided with demonstrators in several cities, as the unrest of the Indian Ocean island entered their third week.

Several hundred young people, mostly students from the university, left the outskirts of the capital Antananarivo to the city center.

A young man was injured and taken to hospital after clashes with the security forces who had erected barricades, AFP News Agency reported.

The clashes were also held in the southern town of Toliara and the northern city of Diego Suarez.

Former President Mark Ravalomanana came up with the protesters, telling the BBC that the biggest problem with Rajiolina was that he “doesn’t listen.”

Ravalomanana added that the appointment of Gen. Zafisambo would not matter, as he had previously been in the Prime Minister’s office and could not resolve the crisis that Madagascar had hit.

He said he was against military intervention and was ready to return to service if people wanted it.

Madagascar was shaken by numerous uprisings, as in 2009 it gained independence, including mass protests in 2009, which forced Ravalomanan to withdraw and saw Rayolina coming to power.

Rayolina ruled for four years and then returned to power after the 2018 election. The protests celebrate the most significant challenge he had faced after his re-election in 2023.

Despite its natural resources, Madagascar is one of the most overwhelming countries in the world, with 75% of people living below the poverty line, according to the World Bank.

Only about one -third of 30 million Madagascar people have access to electricity, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).