What began as anger over shortages of basic necessities has rapidly escalated into one of the most serious challenges facing President Andry Rajoelina, who has been in power, for the second time, since 2018. On Monday, in response, he sacked his government but that did not placate the protesters.

Gen Z and labor unions that joined the protest movement faced violent repression on October 9 in Antananarivo.

As history threatens to repeat itself yet again, one wonders whether Madagascar will ever escape its political purgatory. Its coups have become ritualistic—bloodless, bureaucratically “validated,” and swiftly forgotten by the world.

The president of Madagascar says an attempted coup is underway in the Indian Ocean island country, a day after soldiers joined antigovernment demonstrations.