Africa-Press. A former Senate President in Madagascar has been sentenced to ten years in prison with hard labor for his alleged role in the violent suppression of youth-led protests that contributed to the ousting of the previous government last year.
A court in the capital, Antananarivo, convicted retired General Richard Ravalomanana, a close ally of former President Andry Rajoelina, on charges of complicity in murder.
Prosecutors accused him of instructing security forces to use violence against demonstrators during what has been termed the Generation Z protests in September and October 2025. Ravalomanana denied these allegations and stated that he would appeal the ruling.
The protests began a year ago, initially sparked by anger over the ongoing shortages of electricity and water, before evolving into a broader movement against Rajoelina’s government.
At least 22 people were killed and more than 100 others injured during the unrest, according to United Nations statistics reported by local media.
The protests ultimately led to a political crisis that resulted in Rajoelina’s removal from power and the formation of a new government led by Colonel Michael Randrianerina.
The gendarmerie led the crackdown, where Ravalomanana held significant influence at the time. A prosecutor stated in December 2025 that he “issued orders to use violence to suppress the demonstrations.”
Ravalomanana was removed from the presidency of the Senate in October, shortly after the protests erupted, and was arrested at his home in December after failing to respond to a summons from the gendarmerie.
He was later placed in pre-trial detention in the highly secure prison of Imerintsiatosika outside Antananarivo, where he has spent the past seven months. He is among several prominent figures linked to the former Rajoelina government facing legal actions since the change in power. Ravalomanana is also under investigation for separate corruption charges.
A former national police chief, who testified at the trial, supported his account, stating that Ravalomanana was not part of the operational command chain and did not issue any orders to the police, gendarmerie, or soldiers deployed during the unrest. His lawyer questioned the evidence linking him directly to the violence.
The court was asked: “Is there any confirmed written or oral evidence… that condemns him?” arguing that the prosecution did not provide evidence that security officers received orders from his client. Ravalomanana’s defense team announced that they would appeal the ruling to a higher court.
The court dropped a separate charge related to making a death threat, ruling that the case was too old to prosecute. Ravalomanana, known for wearing a cowboy hat and displaying his military medals, is viewed by protesters as a symbol of authoritarian power.
