We want lights, not power: The Gen Z uprising in Madagascar and implications for radical social development

We want better government, not empty promises.
We want lights, not power.
We want water, not soda.

A generation in the dark

In Madagascar, the chant We don’t want power, we want lights became the anthem of a youth uprising. Young people filled the streets demanding better government and job opportunities. What began as anger over basic services grew into a nationwide movement that forced President Andry Rajoelina from power. Many protesters said they no longer trusted his leadership, especially after reports confirmed that he held French citizenship, deepening suspicions of foreign influence. The movement, driven by the Gen Z Mada network, used social media, music, and street organizing to demand an end to corruption and neglect.

The protests began on September 25, 2025, when two opposition politicians who criticized the government over electricity cuts were arrested. That act ignited anger among a generation living through daily blackouts and water shortages. Protesters called out chronic service failures, limited access to higher education, corruption, and deepening poverty. Carrying empty yellow jerrycans as symbols of broken promises, students and workers demanded water that flows, lights that shine, and leadership that serves its citizens. Their symbol, a modified One Piece pirate flag with a Malagasy straw hat, captured a creative spirit that united young people across the country.

A history of unfinished revolutions

Since gaining independence from France in 1960, Madagascar has faced repeated cycles of uprising and political transition. In 1972, students and workers overthrew President Philibert Tsiranana’s pro-French regime to reclaim national sovereignty. In 1991, civil servants and protesters again pushed a president to resign, but elite interests soon returned to power. Entrepreneur Marc Ravalomanana came to office in 2002 promising reform and modernization, yet he was ousted in 2009 by a young mayor, Andry Rajoelina, who now faces the same fate at the hands of an even younger generation seeking true independence and the end of lingering colonial ties.

The roots of unrest

Madagascar’s recent upheaval reflects years of deepening socioeconomic strain:

Indicator	Situation / Statistic
Access to electricity	Only 36% nationally, just 7–12% in rural areas; cities face 6–12 hour daily blackouts
Water access	70% of southern residents lack basic drinking water; frequent multi-day shortages
Utility crisis	Jirama’s debt is 2.37 trillion MGA (~$529M), or 7.6% of GDP; aging infrastructure causes 20% water losses and declining hydro output
Poverty	75–80% of Malagasy live below $2.15/day; poverty in secondary cities rose from 46% to 61% in the past decade
Youth unemployment	Over 30% in urban areas
Inflation	7–8%, eroding already low wages
Urbanization vs. GDP	4.2% annual urban growth, but GDP per capita remains only $453
Corruption	Ranked 140th of 180 countries

These social and economic conditions shaped the frustration that erupted into mass protest and political change.

Implications for radical social work and development

Radical social work or development is an approach that goes beyond helping individuals cope with personal hardships. It challenges the political, economic, and social systems that create and sustain inequality. Instead of viewing poverty or exclusion as personal misfortune, radical social work sees them as consequences of structural injustice. Its goal is to transform those systems through empowerment, collective action, and solidarity. At its heart, radical social work is guided by the belief that social work is not just about care but also about change. It is rooted in principles of freedom, justice, and human dignity, drawing inspiration from the African philosophy of Ubuntu, the idea that I am because we are. (Not I am because you are). Ubuntu emphasizes interconnectedness, compassion, and shared humanity, making it a natural ethical foundation for radical social practice. It calls on social workers to promote justice not only for individuals but for entire communities, ensuring that development respects both people and their collective well-being. In practice, radical social workers engage directly with communities, helping them identify sources of oppression and organize for social transformation. They work with people, not for them, encouraging awareness and agency rather than dependency. Whether confronting corruption, inequality, or exploitation, their focus is on systemic change that restores human dignity and builds solidarity among the marginalized.

The difference between mainstream and radical approaches are:

Aspect	Mainstream Social Work and Development	Radical Social Work and Development
Focus	Addresses individual problems and needs	Challenges structural causes of injustice
Role	Helper or service provider	Activist and ally for social change
Goal	Adaptation and coping	Liberation, empowerment, and justice
Ethical basis	Professional neutrality	Ubuntu values of freedom, justice, and collective care
Approach	Often neutral or apolitical	Explicitly political and transformative

Applying Ubuntu lens:

Level	Focus of Radical Action (Ubuntu Lens)	Example of Practice
Family	Building justice-conscious families and nurturing freedom-minded citizens	Family dialogue on rights, justice, and civic duty; intergenerational mentorship
Community	Promoting resource justice and collective action	Community assemblies, cooperatives, participatory planning, land and water advocacy
Social	Challenging structural inequality and corruption	Advocacy, civic education, policy reform
Environmental	Advancing ecological justice and sustainability	Eco-social work, water rights campaigns, community reforestation

The uprising shows how unmet basic needs and persistent inequality can lead to collective resistance. For social workers and development practitioners, Madagascar’s movement demonstrates the power and limits of radical action. The loss of more than twenty lives and the violent confrontations between protesters and security forces reveal the deep cost of systemic neglect, tragedies that could have been avoided through responsive governance and genuine social investment. Radical social work must therefore address both the causes of such uprisings and the means to prevent violence.