Madagascar’s Gen Z protesters mark one year since they forced Rajoelina out — then felt betrayed

The military takeover brought an end to the street unrest that had killed at least 22 people. Protesters experienced "joy and relief," according to Herizo Andriamanantena, the figurehead of the original movement. For many activists the switch of allegiance by parts of the security forces felt like the decisive moment of success.

A year later, organisers say the new authorities have reverted to familiar methods of repression rather than delivering meaningful reforms. Herizo told AFP there were only "little changes here and there" after the takeover. When his collective held a march in April to protest slow reforms, the interim authorities responded with arrests and force.

Activists detained include Herizo and five others who were jailed on a charge of "endangering state security." Herizo spent 13 days in custody. Lawyer Maromanana Aliarivelo described that charge as "the tool par excellence used for ages by those in power in Madagascar," saying it functions as a way to silence critics. Another activist, Nomena Ratsihorimanana, said his arrest was violent: his motorbike was rammed, he was beaten for about an hour, and claims that guns were put in detainees' mouths.

Facebook page helped coordinate demonstrations. That page, which at one point had roughly 200,000 followers, was hacked and deleted before the military switched sides. Activists describe the movement as diverse — "like a box of coloured pencils," one said — with many participants older than the strict Gen Z birth years. UNICEF data cited in reporting noted the country is young: around 70 percent of the population is under 30.

Some factions within the movement now back Colonel Randrianirina, who has promised elections by the end of next year. Other organisers distrust official events planned to mark the anniversary. One administrator of the original Facebook page, Elliot Randriamandrato, said officially managed commemorations could be misuse of the movement's memory. Planned activities in the capital include unveiling a stele, a march, and an address by the interim leader at May 13 Square, a longtime protest site.

A movement that helped remove a sitting president now faces internal fractures and a state response that uses the same security laws and force protesters had opposed. Activists' demands for faster reforms and accountability collide with an interim government that has detained critics and promised elections at a later date. The coming months will test whether youth organisers remain united and whether promised political transitions translate into tangible governance changes.