Widespread anti-government protests, now in their third consecutive week, continue to paralyze Madagascar as a youth-led movement demands the resignation of President Andry Rajoelina. The demonstrations, sparked initially by severe water and electricity shortages, have since mushroomed into a nationwide outcry against poverty, government corruption, and the failure to provide essential services.

The protests, described as the largest the country has seen in over 15 years, are being driven by a youth movement known as "Gen Z," which has drawn inspiration from similar recent movements in Kenya and Nepal. Demonstrations have erupted in multiple cities, including the capital, Antananarivo, and major urban centers like Toliara and Diego Suarez.

In Antananarivo, protesters recently issued a 24-hour ultimatum for President Rajoelina to meet their demands, threatening to take "all necessary measures" if he failed to respond. The president, however, has remained defiant. He has dismissed the calls for his resignation as an attempted coup by political rivals and has firmly rejected any notion of stepping down.

In an effort to quell the unrest, Rajoelina dismissed his entire government. This move failed to appease the demonstrators, whose primary demand has evolved from a call for better services to the president's ouster. "We don't want a new government, we want him to leave," one protester was quoted as saying.

Tensions have escalated into violence, with reports of clashes between demonstrators and security forces. Authorities have deployed tear gas to disperse crowds, leading to injuries. A United Nations report indicated that at least 22 people have died and over 100 have been injured during the protests, a figure the Malagasy government officially disputes.

The political crisis unfolds against a backdrop of deep-seated economic hardship. Despite being rich in natural resources, Madagascar remains one of the world's poorest nations. Rajoelina, who took office in 2019 after a democratically recognized election, had promised to break the country's recurring cycle of crises. However, this latest wave of unrest signals a return to significant political instability, with civil society groups divided on how to proceed amid concerns over protester safety and ongoing arrests. The situation remains volatile as both the government and the protest movement hold firm to their positions.