Madagascar
Human rights issues in Madagascar are currently dominated by a period of significant political instability. Following mass protests in late 2025 over basic services, the country underwent a military takeover, which has created a volatile environment for civil liberties and the rule of law.
The following sections outline the primary human rights concerns as of early 2026:
1. Political Instability and Civil Liberties
The most pressing issue is the aftermath of the September–October 2025 protests (often led by "Generation Z").
Regime Change: Massive demonstrations over water and electricity shortages led to the impeachment and eventual flight of President Andry Rajoelina in October 2025. This was followed by a military takeover and the appointment of a transitional government.
Violent Crackdowns: During the 2025 protests, security forces reportedly used live ammunition, rubber bullets, and tear gas, resulting in dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries.
Restricted Expression: Freedom of assembly remains precarious. Even before the 2025 crisis, authorities frequently banned opposition protests and used restrictive media laws to silence critics.
2. Justice System and Prison Conditions
Madagascar’s penitentiary system is notorious for being among the most overcrowded in the world.
Extreme Overcrowding: Many prisons operate at over 1,000% capacity. Detainees often sleep in shifts or on their sides due to lack of floor space.+1
Pre-trial Detention: Approximately 55% of the prison population has not yet been convicted of a crime. Under Malagasy law, pre-trial detention can legally last up to five and a half years for adults.
Inhumane Conditions: Inadequate food, poor sanitation, and lack of medical care lead to frequent deaths from preventable diseases and malnutrition.
3. Climate Change and Displacement
Madagascar is one of the world's most vulnerable countries to climate-induced human rights crises.
Climate Refugees: Recurrent droughts in the south (Le Kéré) have forced thousands of Antandroy people to flee northward. Amnesty International has documented that these internally displaced persons (IDPs) face government neglect, forced evictions from temporary shelters, and a lack of access to basic services.+1
Natural Disasters: In early February 2026, Tropical Cyclone Fytia caused widespread flooding in the northwest, leading to several deaths and displacing over 31,000 people, further straining limited humanitarian resources.
4. Violence and Criminal Justice
Extrajudicial Actions: There are persistent reports of security forces using excessive force and performing extrajudicial killings, particularly in rural areas during operations against cattle rustlers (dahalo).
Surgical Castration Law: In 2024, Madagascar enacted a controversial law allowing for the surgical castration of those convicted of raping minors. Human rights organizations like Amnesty International have condemned this as a violation of the prohibition against "cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment."
5. Human Trafficking
While the government has made efforts to improve its anti-trafficking response, Madagascar remains a source country for forced labor and sex trafficking.
Vulnerability: Women and children are frequently exploited domestically (as domestic workers or in the sex trade) and abroad in the Middle East.
Official Complicity: Corruption among local officials sometimes facilitates the issuance of false documents to bypass travel bans for vulnerable workers.