Madagascar, an island nation near the southeastern coast of Africa, is currently going through a major political crisis led by Gen Z protesters. This youth-led movement is similar to recent protests in countries like Nepal, Morocco, and Bangladesh, where young people have stood up against their governments.

The unrest in Madagascar began on September 25 due to severe shortages of water and electricity. What started as frustration over basic facilities quickly turned into a much bigger protest. People began demanding better governance, accusing the government of corruption and failure to provide essential services.

The situation escalated further on October 13 when reports claimed that President Andry Rajoelina had fled the country. Although this has not been officially confirmed, some government officials and opposition leaders say he left after the military began siding with protesters.

A powerful military unit called CAPSAT, which had earlier helped President Rajoelina come to power in 2009, shocked everyone by switching sides. Instead of stopping the protesters, they joined them in the capital city, Antananarivo. The unit even claimed control over the military and appointed a new army chief. Soon after, parts of the gendarmerie, which is a special police force, also supported the protesters.

There are now two different claims about the President’s whereabouts. Opposition leaders say he has run away, while Rajoelina himself later appeared on a live broadcast. In his statement, he said he was not fleeing but had moved to a “safe location” because there had been several attempts to assassinate him or overthrow his government. He said he had no choice but to protect his life.

As of now, the situation in Madagascar remains uncertain. The military is divided, the president’s status is unclear, and the protesters, mostly young people, are demanding serious change. Madagascar is located in the Indian Ocean, separated from mainland Africa by the Mozambique Channel. Its capital city is Antananarivo.