Madagascar’s powerful Gen Z movement, which played a leading role in toppling former President Andry Rajoelina, has voiced strong opposition to the new prime minister appointed by the country’s coup leader.
Colonel Michael Randrianirina, who led the military takeover last week, was sworn in as head of state on Friday. Just three days later, he announced businessman Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo as his prime minister, a move that has sparked anger among young activists.
In a statement released on Facebook, the youth-led group Gen Z Mada accused the new ruler of making the decision “in a non-transparent manner and without consultation.”
The movement said the appointment “runs contrary to the desired structural change” that protesters have been demanding since demonstrations began nearly a month ago.
“Our revolution will not be hijacked. The Malagasy youth are watching and mobilising,” Gen Z Mada declared, warning the new government not to ignore the movement’s role in the country’s political transformation.
The latest statement highlights growing tension between the young activists and the military leaders who have taken control of the Indian Ocean island nation.
Protests initially erupted in Madagascar over worsening water and electricity shortages but quickly evolved into broader calls for political reform and an end to corruption.
The demonstrations, driven largely by Gen Z activists using social media to organize nationwide rallies, gained massive support across the country.
President Rajoelina, who faced mounting criticism for mismanagement and alleged authoritarian tendencies, attempted to open dialogue with the protest leaders but failed to calm the streets.
As the unrest intensified, Rajoelina reportedly fled the capital, Antananarivo, and went into hiding, with some reports suggesting he had left the country.
A week ago, Colonel Randrianirina, the commander of the elite CAPSAT military unit, announced that the army had seized power to restore order and stability.
During his swearing-in ceremony on 17 October, Randrianirina appeared in civilian clothes and promised to lead a transitional government that would “reflect the people’s will.”
“With a people in full fervour, driven by the desire for change, we joyfully open a new chapter in the life of our nation,” he said.
However, Gen Z Mada’s reaction to the new prime minister’s appointment suggests growing distrust toward the coup leader’s promises.
Many young protesters fear the revolution that forced Rajoelina from power could be co-opted by elites seeking to preserve the old political system under a new name.
The group has not specified what actions it plans to take if Rajaonarivelo’s appointment is not reviewed or reversed but warned that it will closely monitor the new administration.
“We will not allow the failed methods of the past to continue in a new form,” Gen Z Mada said, calling for full transparency and accountability in the transition process.
Analysts say the standoff could test the stability of Randrianirina’s newly formed government, which faces pressure from both domestic and international observers to ensure a credible return to civilian rule.
The African Union and the United Nations have not yet issued formal statements on the appointment, but diplomats have privately expressed concern over the lack of inclusivity in Madagascar’s post-coup transition.
For many Malagasy citizens, particularly the youth, the revolution represented a rare moment of hope for genuine change. Now, there are growing fears that the political momentum could be lost if the military fails to deliver on its promises.
Madagascar, one of Africa’s poorest nations, has faced repeated cycles of political instability over the past two decades, with coups and protests often driven by economic hardship and public frustration.
As Gen Z Mada continues to mobilize online and on the streets, the country’s new leadership faces mounting pressure to prove that the revolution’s ideals of transparency, justice, and reform will not be betrayed.
