MONTREAL — “Since Sept. 25 young people and entire families have been paying the price for their courage — courage to demand water, electricity and freedom,” Henintsoa Ramangalahy told a march of 300 here Oct. 11. “We say to our brothers and sisters in Madagascar, as long as you march for the truth, we will march with you.”
Thousands of youth, working people and unions began protesting in late September, angry over the conditions they faced and inspired by similar mass actions in Nepal, Morocco and Indonesia. Madagascar, a large island off the east coast of Africa, is one of the poorest countries in the world, with a population of 32 million and a median age of 19.
Since winning independence from France in 1960, every government formed has worked to enrich its cronies and pander to corporate plunderers in a mineral-rich country. Protesters demanded the resignation of President Andry Rajoelina, who came to power in a coup in 2009.
One of the largest corporations in the country is the QMM mine, owned 20% by the government and 80% by Rio Tinto, a huge mining company with tentacles all over the world. Located on the southeastern end of the island, the company extracts ilmenite, used in paint, ink, paper and toothpaste, as well as some highly profitable heavy metals.
Notorious for destruction of the living conditions of toilers in the area, the QMM mine has been the site of militant protests by workers and area residents, whose lives have been upended. In 2023 three protesters there were shot down and killed.
These conditions helped fuel the recent protests. Despite moves by the regime to repress the actions, with authorities shooting tear gas and rubber bullets, the demonstrations continued and won over growing numbers of members of the military.
President Rajoelina disappeared Oct. 12, reportedly flown out by the French government. The military said it’s taking over, dissolving the government, except for the National Assembly.
While protesters have shown resilience and insist on basic change, they have no clear idea of what to do. “Honestly, I’ve no idea who should replace him,” protester Angie Rakoto told the online Independent Oct. 14, talking about the ousted president. “But it has to be someone who is here for the Malagasy people, not himself.”
At the Montreal demonstration, Aro Koloina Andrianaivo, a communications student at Concordia University, pointed to the role of Rio Tinto. “We are fighting for drinkable water, a livable wage, women’s rights, while the president defends their profits.”
The next day, this Militant worker-correspondent joined Katy LeRougetel, Communist League candidate for mayor of Montreal, driving to Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, to show solidarity with 180 steelworkers who have been on strike at Rio Tinto’s metal powders plant since July 10. Three days earlier, the company had announced it was closing the plant.
I mentioned to Patrick Sarrazin, the president of Local 7493 of the United Steelworkers there, that I had joined the solidarity action backing the Madagascan protesters the day before. “I know the president of the Rio Tinto mine union in Madagascar,” he told me. “I went there two years ago to provide union training to the mine workers, who have to operate in very difficult conditions.” He said he knew about the three protesters killed there two years ago demonstrating in front of the mine.