Madagascar protesters refuse to meet president, call for strike

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The youth-led movement behind nearly two weeks of anti-government protests in Madagascar rejected dialogue with President Andry Rajoelina and called a strike and new demonstration for Thursday.

Near-daily protests erupted in the impoverished Indian Ocean island on September 25, claiming at least 22 lives, according to a UN toll that is disputed by local authorities.

Rajoelina sacked his entire government last week and appointed an army general as prime minister on Monday, calling a public meeting at the presidential palace Wednesday where he heard complaints from dozens of participants.

The meeting was snubbed by the Gen Z Mada movement leading the protests, which were sparked by anger over frequent power and water cuts.

“We reject this sham dialogue,” the group said on social media, criticising “a government that represses, abuses and humiliates young people in the streets”.

One of the student protest leaders was nonetheless present at the event, telling the 51-year-old president: “Poverty is becoming severe here in Madagascar because there is too much corruption in the government.”

“Students cannot focus on their studies due to the lack of light. There is no water. There are even rats where we sleep,” he charged in a passionate tirade that received the loudest applause of the day from the crowd of about 1,000 people.