Imagine waking up to news that your country’s president is in hiding. In Madagascar, President Andry Rajoelina says he is living in a safe location after bad people tried to hurt him. He made a video online to tell everyone about the big danger he is facing today.
For two weeks, many young citizens took to the streets to show their anger. These citizens started a giant protest movement called Gen Z Mada because they want a big change in how their country is managed. They asked the 51-year-old leader to step down immediately. To stop the anger, Rajoelina decided to clean out his top team and end his whole government, but the public was still angry. During a live broadcast on Facebook, Rajoelina explained that army officers and political rivals tried to kill him in a secret attack. The military is now split, and nobody knows who is really in control. He insists that taking cover in a private shelter is his only option right now to stay alive while army forces patrol the cities.
People across Madagascar are watching their screens to see what will happen next. Right now, the capital city remains quiet, but everyone wonders if peaceful life will return soon.
