Curfew declared in Madagascar capital after violent protests over water, power shortages
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Protesters demanded the restoration of reliable water and electricity across the country.
PHOTO: EPA
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- Protests in Madagascar's capital over water and electricity shortages turned violent, with looting and property damage reported.
- Authorities imposed a 7pm-5am curfew to "protect the population and their belongings" after protesters defied a demonstration ban.
- Demonstrators blamed President Rajoelina's government for poor conditions, chanting "We need water, we need electricity".
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ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar - Authorities in Madagascar on Sept 25 imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the capital, after protests over frequent power outages and water shortages turned violent, according to a top security official.
Police fired teargas to disperse the thousands of mostly youth protesters who were marching and carrying placards, in Antananarivo, the capital, according to a Reuters witness.
The demonstrators were denouncing the government and demanding restoration of reliable water and electricity across the country.
“There are unfortunately individuals taking advantage of the situation to destroy other people’s property,” General Angelo Ravelonarivo, who heads a joint security body that includes the police and the military, said in a statement he read on privately owned Real TV late on Sept 25.
To protect “the population and their belongings,” the security forces decided to impose a curfew from 7pm to 5am “until public order is restored,” the statement said.
A protester is apprehended by police during the demonstration against repeated water and electricity outages, in Antananarivo on Sept 25.
PHOTO: AFP
Madagascar, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, is mired in poverty, and some people blame the government of President Andry Rajoelina, who was re-elected in 2023, for not improving conditions.
During the protests earlier on Sept 25, a large shopping mall in the capital was looted and then burned, and the homes of two lawmakers were looted and vandalised, according to the Reuters witness.
The protesters, who defied an earlier police ban on the demonstration, marched while chanting, “We need water, we need electricity.”
After the protests were dispersed, they later spread into various neighbourhoods of the capital.
Protesters throwing back teargas canisters fired by riot police in Antananarivo on Sept 25.
PHOTO: REUTERS
A security forces spokesperson, Zafisambatra Ravoavy, could not be reached for comment.
On Sept 24, the national police chief, Jean Herbert Andriantahiana Rakotomalala, warned that security forces would “take firm preventive... measures against those tempted to break the law.” REUTERS
