On the evening of the 29th, Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina delivered a televised address, announcing the dissolution of the current government.
Rajoelina announced that he was "terminating the positions of the Prime Minister and all government members," and stated that "a new Prime Minister will be appointed within three days."
He emphasized that the country is currently experiencing instability, and widespread power and water outages have triggered public dissatisfaction.
He said: "I have heard the voices of the youth and fully understand their concerns and frustration."
On behalf of the government, Rajoelina apologized to the public, admitting that many needs and expectations "have not been met or fully considered," and promised to coordinate national governance to ensure future problems are discovered in time and more concrete solutions are provided.
He also announced a series of emergency assistance measures for shops and businesses recently robbed, including interest-free loans, special subsidies, and tax reductions.
Since the 25th, large-scale demonstrations have erupted in Madagascar's capital Antananarivo and many other cities, protesting against frequent water and power outages. Shops, residences, and businesses in many places have been looted and set on fire, resulting in casualties and property losses.
According to United Nations data, recent protests have left at least 22 people dead and over 100 injured.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights pointed out that the dead and injured include protesters and passersby shot by security forces; there were also people killed in the subsequent large-scale violence and looting by individuals unrelated to the protests or by gangs.