For many of the young protesters whose relentless demonstrations helped trigger Madagascar’s recent military coup, the country’s leadership change has yet to deliver any tangible improvement. Twenty-year-old accounting student Donah Falia still spends hours each day queuing for water in his neighborhood on the outskirts of Antananarivo, where taps often run dry, and job prospects remain scarce. “For us, personally, there is no answer here yet. I still don’t see any hope for us,” he told The Associated Press after Col. Michael Randrianirina was sworn in as president.

Randrianirina’s takeover from the ousted President Andry Rajoelina mirrors a familiar pattern in Madagascar’s troubled political history. Since gaining independence from France in 1960, the island nation has endured multiple coups and power struggles — a cycle that has undermined democracy and stifled economic growth for decades. His self-appointment as head of state, following the overthrow of an elected government, echoes similar military takeovers seen across parts of Africa in recent years.

While many citizens initially celebrated Rajoelina’s removal, the young people who fueled the uprising remain skeptical. They hope the new government will address chronic unemployment, poverty, and infrastructure failures — the very grievances that drove them to the streets — and that Randrianirina will eventually honor his pledge to restore civilian rule. For now, optimism in Madagascar feels as uncertain as the country’s future.

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