The Secretary-General of the United Nations has expressed deep sadness over the loss of life and property damage resulting from youth-led protests in Madagascar, which began on 25 September. He extended condolences to the families of the victims and called on authorities to adhere to international human rights law. Emphasizing the need for peaceful demonstrations, he urged dialogue to achieve a constructive resolution.
The protests, initially sparked by widespread water and power outages, have grown to reflect broader frustrations over poverty, corruption, and governance issues. Inspired by similar youth movements in other countries, thousands of young people took to the streets demanding change. In response, the President dismissed his government and appointed an army general as Prime Minister, but protesters rejected this move, giving the new leadership a 48-hour ultimatum to resign.
The United Nations human rights office reported that at least 22 people have died and over 100 have been injured during the demonstrations. Victims include protesters, bystanders, and individuals affected by subsequent violence and looting by unrelated groups. UN human rights chief Volker Türk condemned the violent response by security forces and called on the authorities to respect freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in line with international human rights obligations.
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