• Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina appointed military general Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo as prime minister.
• The appointment comes amid ongoing youth-led protests against power outages and water shortages.
• Protesters have given the president a 48-hour ultimatum to resign.
• The United Nations reported significant casualties in the protests, which the government disputes.
• This marks a militarization of the government amid increasing political tensions.

Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina announced the appointment of Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo, a military general, as the new prime minister on October 6. This decision follows the dissolution of the previous government due to escalating protests fueled by ongoing power and water shortages affecting the population. Rajoelina emphasized that Zafisambo should focus on "restoring order and regaining the people's trust" while asserting his commitment to key priorities such as improving access to essential services, according to Reuters and Le Monde.

The appointment of Zafisambo comes during a period of intense demonstrations dubbed the "Gen Z Mada" movement, which commenced on September 25, aimed at expressing public dissatisfaction with the government's inability to address basic needs. Protesters have rejected the appointment, insisting that as long as Rajoelina holds power, their actions will intensify. "We will continue to fight," they stated, giving Rajoelina an ultimatum to resign within 48 hours, according to AA and BBC.

Although L'AFP reported clashes between security forces and demonstrators leading to injuries during Monday's protests, the government refuted external claims of serious casualties, dismissing them as misinformation. According to the UN, at least 22 people have died amidst the turmoil which has sparked unrest across major cities, further intensifying the calls for change in leadership, as noted by Le Monde and BBC.

This strategic appointment of a military leader reflects an attempt by Rajoelina to secure military backing in the face of potential threats to his administration, indicative of the deepening crisis the nation faces. The general, previously director of the military Cabinet, has now assumed leadership during a period marked by social unrest and calls for democratic accountability, according to Reuters, AA, and BBC.