By Bongiwe Dlamini

MBABANE:Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina has dissolved his Government in response to mass deadly demonstrations seeking to remove him over power and water shortages with the United Nations(UN) reporting that, at least twenty-two(22) people have been killed and more than one hundred(100) others injured since the protests erupted, Aljazeera reported.

“The protests, which began last week and continued into Monday, were led largely by young people, angry over deteriorating living conditions in the capital, Antananarivo.But experts say they represent the most serious challenge to Rajoelina’s authority since his re-election in 2023, and the largest wave of unrest the island nation has seen in years.

Crowds gathered at Antananarivo’s main University on Monday, carrying placards and singing the national anthem, before attempting to march into the city centre, according to footage broadcast by the local channel 2424.MG. Police fired tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, as authorities enforced a dusk-to-dawn curfew that has been in place since last week. Security forces have also used rubber bullets to try to quell the unrest,” reads the Aljazeera report.

Looting has been reported at supermarkets, appliance shops and banks across the capital of 1.4 million people, homes belonging to politicians have also been attacked in recent days.