The unrest followed Rajoelina’s decision on Monday to dismiss Prime Minister Christian Ntsay and his government, but the president gave no sign he would step down despite growing calls for his departure.
The demonstrations, which began on Thursday, have been fuelled by chronic power cuts and water shortages and intensified through social media. The United Nations human rights office said 22 people had been killed in clashes, blaming what it called a violent response by security forces, while more than 100 others have been injured. Authorities in Madagascar disputed the U.N. figures but have not released their own.
