Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina escaped on a French military plane while Gen Z protesters and rebellious soldiers took back the streets of Antananarivo. The same elite CAPSAT unit that helped him take power in 2009 now says it controls the armed forces.
This is just another sign of Paris losing its grip on a place it once tightly controlled.
French Territories Surround Madagascar
Mayotte sits about 190 miles northwest of Madagascar in the Mozambique Channel. Réunion is located between Mauritius and Madagascar to the east. The Scattered Islands – Bassas da India, Europa, Juan de Nova, Tromelin, and the Glorioso Islands – are spread out across the Mozambique Channel and the western Indian Ocean.
Madagascar became independent in 1960, but the Scattered Islands stayed under French control, basically surrounding Madagascar with French territories on all sides.
Together, these lands cover almost 2.6 million square kilometers of ocean zones. France keeps military bases on empty atolls and staffs remote coral islands that Madagascar claims as its own.
April Diplomacy Didn’t Stop the October Crisis
Back in April, France toured the region, stopping in Mayotte, Réunion, and Madagascar, where President Macron announced economic deals including a hydroelectric dam project. Both Madagascar and Mauritius claim the Scattered Islands.
But just six months later, water shortages and power cuts sparked protests. Only about one-third of Madagascar’s people have electricity, and blackouts often last more than eight hours a day.
The promised infrastructure projects didn’t solve these basic problems. Protesters needed water for hygiene and electricity to keep food safe. They got long-term promises instead.
New Caledonia Rejects Paris’ Plan
New Caledonia faced similar unrest through 2024 and 2025. In May 2024, violent riots left 14 people dead and caused €2 billion in damage. Indigenous Kanak people protested against Paris’ plan to give voting rights to non-indigenous residents.
In July 2025, France agreed to create a “State of New Caledonia” that stays French, but it still needs parliamentary approval and a referendum in 2026. Pro-independence groups rejected this deal soon after it was announced.
Neither side feels fully satisfied, a story that’s not unfamiliar in French territories around the world.
French Military Pullouts in the Sahel Before Indian Ocean Crisis
France closed military bases in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, with locals celebrating what they saw as long-overdue departures. Paris painted this as smart repositioning, but many saw it as a retreat.
In Madagascar, poor economic management drove people onto the streets demanding President Rajoelina’s resignation, apology, and the Senate’s dissolution. They rejected numerous offers for government talks.
Protesters lacked refrigeration for medicine and access to clean water. Corruption made infrastructure problems worse across many services.
French Citizenship Causes Backlash
Rajoelina reportedly holds French citizenship, which has angered many Malagasy over the years. His escape on a French military plane only made it seem like Paris supports unpopular leaders who serve foreign interests.
This hurts France’s hold on its Indian Ocean territories. Most Scattered Islands are uninhabited except for a few scientists and soldiers. France claims these coral atolls, which don’t bring in money except through fishing and resources.
Macron attended the Indian Ocean Commission summit in April, which includes Madagascar, Mauritius, Comoros, Seychelles, and Réunion. China, India, and the EU are observers.
Challenges Back Home Add Pressure
France is also dealing with political unrest at home and pressure on its government system. Talks about constitutional reforms pop up now and then but haven’t gone anywhere.
Madagascar’s collapse adds to Paris’s problems as ongoing talks about New Caledonia’s future continue and disputes over the Scattered Islands linger.
Young protesters in Madagascar use the skull and crossbones from the anime One Piece, inspired by youth movements in Nepal and Sri Lanka. They organize mostly online, skipping traditional power channels.
Military Sides with the People
One CAPSAT officer said soldiers had become “bootlickers” blindly following illegal orders instead of protecting the people. Now, the military is siding with the public as political legitimacy falls apart.
The United Nations criticised Madagascar’s government for using violence against mostly peaceful protests. At least 22 people have died in three weeks, though the government disputes those numbers.
The same CAPSAT unit that helped Rajoelina take power in 2009 is now behind his exit. Colonel Michael Randrianirina denies a coup, saying the army is responding to what people want.
Economic Problems Have Deep Roots
Economic struggles come from history, not from who’s better. France’s Indian Ocean territories suffer from bad governance just like other places facing uprisings. When services collapse, people take to the streets.
Paris can’t keep control with just occasional presidential visits and infrastructure promises. Madagascar is surrounded by French military posts and contested islands, showing deep dependence.
The U.S. Embassy has told Americans to stay put because of the unrest. The African Union has called for calm and restraint from all sides.
Legitimate Claims Matter
France needs to treat neighbors in the Indian Ocean as equals, not possessions. The Scattered Islands fight could be solved with negotiations like Britain’s handover of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. Mayotte and Réunion need real economic growth, not just dependent status.
Madagascar’s crisis started with basic failures – no water, no power. Protesters rejected Rajoelina’s plea for more time to fix things.
Paris holds empty coral islands while Madagascar struggles to give electricity to two-thirds of its people. It’s harder and harder to defend that contrast as young people organize through social media.
France’s postcolonial system is coming apart bit by bit. Each territory has its own issues, but they all point back to Paris not wanting to rethink old relationships.
Madagascar joins a growing list of places where French influence is shrinking. Rajoelina’s flight on a French military plane highlights a patronage system that no longer works for it's people.
Now, Gen Z protesters and rebellious soldiers are shaping Madagascar’s future without French guidance. Meanwhile, the Scattered Islands remain disputed, Réunion and Mayotte watch from opposite sides, and Paris watches from farther away than ever.
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New Caledonia’s Independence Fight: Riots, Nickel, and Lost
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