Madagascar is once again at a crossroads after a military takeover, with a young officer now in charge. The country’s Generation Z, driven by economic despair and digital awareness, led the uprising against former President Andry Rajoelina. The protests, fueled by chronic unemployment, corruption, and a widening gap between the political elite and struggling youth, culminated in the military’s intervention.

This is not a new phenomenon in Madagascar, where a cycle of political euphoria followed by disillusionment has become eerily predictable. The island’s history is marked by revolutions that have eaten their own, with previous leaders ousted by popular revolts only to be replaced by new regimes that fail to deliver true reform.

The new military leader faces a daunting task in rebuilding trust, stabilizing the economy, and convincing the people and the international community that his rule is not merely another interlude before the next uprising. The African Union has suspended Madagascar, and the United Nations has denounced the takeover, but such measures have become almost ceremonial.

Across the continent, a new phenomenon is emerging, with some Africans, particularly the youth, seeing military takeovers as a desperate form of justice in the face of leaders who cling to power through sham elections and constitutional manipulation. Madagascar’s crisis is a symptom of a broader continental issue, where a young population has lost faith in democratic promises and is seeking salvation in uniforms rather than ballots.

Unless Madagascar breaks its pattern of building strongmen instead of strong institutions, the faces in power will change, but the story will not. The new president must turn protest into progress and rebellion into rebuilding to capture the future. Failure to deliver tangible change quickly may lead to another uprising, this time against him.

The international community is watching, and the legitimacy of the African Union is being questioned. The institution is seen as outdated, bureaucratic, and disconnected from the realities on the ground by many young Africans. As Madagascar navigates its current crisis, it is clear that the country’s future depends on its ability to build a stable and inclusive democracy that addresses the needs and aspirations of its people.