Police in Madagascar fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of young protesters in the capital Antananarivo and other cities, despite President Andry Rajoelina dissolving his government in a bid to quell the unrest.
The protests, led by the so-called Gen-Z movement, began on Thursday in response to repeated water and power cuts, with demonstrators demanding the president and his government step down.
Rajoelina sacked his government on Monday and offered to hold talks with young people, but protesters remained unsatisfied, calling for him to apologize and take responsibility for the deaths of at least 22 people in the unrest.
The UN human rights chief criticized the security forces for using unnecessary force, while Madagascar’s foreign ministry disputed the UN’s figures.
The protests mark a significant challenge for Rajoelina, who came to power in 2009 after mass protests forced his predecessor to step down.
