Madagascar commemorates youth uprising with new monument after military coup
A monument honoring the 2025 Gen Z protests was unveiled in Antananarivo, marking the overthrow of President Andry Rajoelina and the rise of Colonel Michaël Randrianirina.
In Antananarivo, a new monument was installed beside Lake Anosy, surrounded by motorbikes, taxis and chrome SUVs. The sculpture shows four figures freeing themselves from chains while a militarized figure, rifle in hand, dominates the scene against a backdrop of Madagascar's national colors. It commemorates the Gen Z movement that surged in September-October 2025, driven by widespread water and electricity outages and resulting in over twenty fatalities during the crackdown.
The protests eventually toppled President Andry Rajoelina, who had led the country since 2019, and installed Colonel Michaël Randrianirina as the new leader with the Haute Cour constitutionnelle's approval. The dedication ceremony included poetry, patriotic chants, and a floral offering from the new head of state, who had just returned from the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The event underscores the lingering tensions and hopes of Madagascar's younger generation.
