Overview
- About 1,000 people marched in Antananarivo on Oct. 9 as police used tear gas, rubber bullets and made arrests near Lake Anosy and toward the Ambohijatovo “Democracy Square.”
- Gen Z Madagascar rejected President Andry Rajoelina’s outreach, issued an ultimatum and called a general strike and fresh demonstrations after he named an army general as prime minister.
- Rajoelina appointed Gen. Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo as prime minister and first filled the armed forces, public security and gendarmerie posts, moves protest leaders and civil society groups criticized as militarizing governance.
- The UN says at least 22 people have been killed and more than 100 injured since Sept. 25; Rajoelina disputed the figure on Thursday, stating there were 12 deaths and calling them looters and vandals.
- Lawyers say 28 protesters have been referred to prosecutors, with some placed in pretrial detention, as the movement’s demands focus on a public apology, institutional changes and action targeting Senate President Richard Ravalomanana and ally Mamy Ravatomanga.