In the lead-up to the initial round of presidential elections in Madagascar, confrontations unfolded between demonstrators and the police just days before the scheduled vote.
Responding to the call from the “collective of eleven,” a group of opposition candidates alleging bias in favor of the incumbent president, Andry Rajoelina, a few hundred protesters took to the streets of Antananarivo. Their grievances led to the construction of barricades, hurling stones at riot police, and setting fire to tires before eventually being dispersed.
A young man, preferring to remain anonymous, expressed his motivation, stating, “I’m fighting against an incompetent government so that the law is respected in Madagascar. No one is above the law.”
Another demonstrator conveyed their fight against perceived injustice attributed to President Rajoelina. Police reported 11 arrests, while the Red Cross disclosed treating approximately 10 demonstrators for minor injuries.
Expressing deep concern over the tense political climate, Josep Borrell, the head of European diplomacy, emphasized the European Union’s call for equal opportunities for all candidates in the election. He underscored the significance of respecting freedom of movement, expression, association, and assembly.
The weeks leading up to the elections have seen a series of protests by the opposition, marked by instances of violence during demonstrations.