Overview

• Madagascar’s joint army, police and gendarmerie command said some demonstrators carried out “violent actions” and asserted that security responses depended on protester behavior.
• Security forces fired numerous tear-gas rounds on Saturday to block roughly a thousand protesters heading toward Ambohijatovo, with the capital visibly calmer on Sunday and fewer deployments observed.
• For the first time since the unrest began, the presidency organized a pro-government march in Antananarivo on Saturday, parallel to Gen Z–led anti-government mobilizations.
• The United Nations counts at least 22 dead and hundreds wounded since September 25, a toll the foreign ministry disputes, as church leaders from the FFKM offer to mediate.
• Five days after dismissing his government, President Andry Rajoelina has not named a new prime minister, and a newly announced customs strike threatens to choke imports as calls for a general strike grow.