Madagascar: Crime wave exposes fault lines in military rule
via The Reporter Ethiopia8 min read
Madagascar's capital, Antananarivo, has been gripped by a crime wave involving missing children and discovered bodies, leading to public anger. The National Police Directorate-General reported 172 disappearances since January 1, 2026, with 164 still missing and eight children found dead, 119 of these cases in the Analamanga region. This crisis has led to vigilante justice, including the lynching of a woman suspected of attempted abduction. Colonel Randrianirina, leader of the junta, has labeled the murders "terrorism" and alleged a political conspiracy without presenting evidence. His Prime Minister declared a "war" against those seeking to "undermine the Refoundation." The regime deployed 400 security personnel and blocked websites, but the conspiracy narrative lacks verifiable evidence. Civil society, trade unions, and the Catholic Church have criticized the government's response. Legal scholar Omar Abderman Ramadany warned against speculation, while the Union of Lecturers and Researchers urged authorities to take concrete action beyond declarations. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Madagascar, through Vice-President Bishop Jean Pascal Andriantsoavina, stated they could no longer remain silent about homicides with unknown perpetrators, directly contradicting the government's claims of political conspirators. This religious opposition is part of a broader trend of disillusionment with the junta, which has seen arrests of political dissidents and a focus on consolidating p
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Reporter Ethiopia.
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