The counter-offensive launched by Malagasy President Andry Rajoelina to defuse the youth protest that had challenged his authority for 10 days unfolded in the streets on Saturday, October 4. For the first time since the start of the Generation Z movement, residents of the capital, Antananarivo, were called on to march in support of the president. However, the operation failed to draw crowds.

By midday, only a few hundred people had gathered in the neighborhoods of Andavamamba and Ankorondrano, despite messages of support for the regime shared on several Facebook accounts. Among them was that of Senator Lalatiana Rakotondrazafy, a well-known figure close to the president and former government spokesperson. "Our voices count too," she declared the previous day, calling for unity behind the one "elected by the people."

The turnout fell far short of the show of force the president's camp hoped for. Almost no demonstrators wore the orange T-shirts emblazoned with Rajoelina's image, as is customary during election rallies. In the north of the capital, the Coliseum of Antsonjombe, where a gathering had been planned, remained empty all day.

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