Authorities in Madagascar have announced a night-time curfew across the capital, Antananarivo, after demonstrations over prolonged power cuts and water shortages escalated into chaos.
The dusk-to-dawn restriction follows a day of intense protests on Thursday that saw streets blocked, buildings vandalised and property set on fire.
Hundreds of people poured into the streets early Thursday to express their frustration with repeated blackouts that have left homes and businesses without power for more than 12 hours at a time.
What began as peaceful rallies quickly descended into violent confrontations as police responded with rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowds.
Protesters set up barricades using rocks and burning tyres, paralysing movement in parts of the city. By the afternoon, incidents of looting were reported at shops, appliance outlets and banks in several neighbourhoods of the capital, which has a population of about 1.4 million.
Several stations belonging to the recently launched cable car transport system were also torched.
Local media reported that three residences belonging to politicians allied to President Andry Rajoelina were attacked during the unrest.
Authorities had already outlawed the planned demonstrations on Wednesday, citing fears of disorder, and deployed large numbers of security officers across the city from early Thursday in anticipation of trouble.
“There are, unfortunately, individuals taking advantage of the situation to destroy other people’s property,” General Angelo Ravelonarivo, who heads a joint security unit comprising police and military, said in a statement broadcast on Real TV.
To protect “the population and their belongings,” the joint security body announced a curfew from 7pm to 5am (16:00–02:00 GMT), which will remain in place “until public order is restored.”
The protests are rooted in widespread frustration over deteriorating living conditions in the Indian Ocean nation. Madagascar remains one of the poorest countries in the world, with the World Bank estimating that 75 percent of its 30 million people lived below the poverty line in 2022.
Many citizens blame the government of President Rajoelina, who was re-elected in 2023, for failing to address worsening power and water shortages.
“Water and electricity are basic human needs.” “Let us speak out.” “Malagasy people, wake up.” read some of the placards carried by protesters as they marched through the streets.
The movement, largely driven by young people, has been gaining momentum through social media, particularly Facebook, in recent days.
Although reports of unrest also emerged from provincial towns, especially around the offices of the national water and electricity company, it remains unclear how many people were injured or if there were any deaths during Thursday’s confrontations.