In late September 2025, President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar dissolved his government in response to large-scale, youth-led protests. The demonstrations, initially sparked by severe shortages of water and electricity that can last more than 12 hours, have become the largest seen in the Indian Ocean island nation in years. According to the United Nations, at least 22 people have died and more than 100 have been injured during the unrest.
At the same time in Morocco, youth-led protests across several cities, demanding better education and healthcare, escalated into violence. The protests were organised online by a loosely formed, anonymous youth group calling itself “GenZ 212”, using platforms including TikTok, Instagram and the gaming application Discord.
The latest developments in Madagascar and Morocco, following similar youth-led protests in Kenya, Nepal, Indonesia and the Philippines, illustrate a wider trend: the increasing visibility and influence of Gen Z-led protests in diverse parts of the world. Younger generations are becoming more visible actors in public life, drawing on digital platforms, cultural references and transnational solidarity.
Despite having considerable natural resources, Madagascar has among the highest poverty rates in the world, weak infrastructure and exposure to climate shocks. The immediate trigger of the current unrest on the world’s fifth-largest island has been extended electricity and water shortages that undermine daily life and economic activity.
Young people, many of whom are active on social media, have mobilised to highlight these issues and demand action. Their calls extend beyond technical fixes to infrastructure, instead pointing to broader concerns about governance and accountability. With the median age in Madagascar being 19.2 years, demographic weight has amplified the visibility of younger citizens’ grievances.
The protests in Madagascar reflect a wider pattern observed in other countries. In Kenya, youth-led demonstrations earlier in 2025 challenged government fiscal policies and taxation increases. These actions were characterised by decentralised organisation and reliance on online platforms.
In Nepal, protests involving students and young workers in recent years have centred on corruption and environmental governance. As in Kenya, coordination has often taken place through social media networks rather than established political parties or institutions.
Such cases suggest a growing cross-border dimension to Gen Z activism, with movements learning from and drawing inspiration from one another. Shared strategies include decentralised leadership, the rapid circulation of digital content, and the use of cultural symbols.
In Asia, one prominent symbol has been a flag derived from the Japanese anime One Piece, depicting a skull with a straw hat. Within the narrative of the anime, this flag represents a group of characters who challenge authority. Among youth protesters in countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, and Nepal, it has been adopted as a broader emblem of collective action and resistance to perceived unfairness.
While its presence in Madagascar has so far been limited, the circulation of related imagery online highlights how cultural products resonate across borders. The choice of such a symbol underscores the extent to which global media and youth culture shape contemporary protest repertoires.
The Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) identifies eight pillars of Positive Peace, which are the attitudes, institutions, and structures that create and sustain peaceful societies. Several of these are directly relevant to understanding the dynamics of current youth-led protests:
Seen through the Positive Peace framework, these protests can be interpreted not solely as short-term political disruptions but as indicators of underlying institutional and structural challenges. Youth-led mobilisation is likely to remain a feature of political life in many countries, given that Gen Z represents a significant proportion of populations in Africa and Asia and is highly connected through digital networks. While these movements can be fragmented and sometimes lack clear leadership, they highlight areas where state institutions are perceived to be underperforming.
In Madagascar, the dissolution of the government has created a moment of uncertainty, but also presents a potential opportunity to strengthen governance and service delivery. International experience suggests that addressing the underlying drivers identified in the Positive Peace framework may reduce the likelihood of further unrest.
The youth-led unrest, the spread of cultural symbols, the use of digital platforms for organisation, and cross-border inspiration demonstrate that this generation is developing new ways of expressing grievances and demanding accountability. Analysing these developments through frameworks such as Positive Peace allows for a more systematic understanding of the institutional strengths and weaknesses exposed by the protests. Responding effectively will require addressing service delivery, equity and participation in ways that engage younger generations as key stakeholders in peaceful and sustainable development.
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IEP has identified eight key factors, or Pillars, that comprise Positive Peace.
Analysing the factors that sustain peace.
Identifying and measuring the factors that drive peace
