Gen Z Protesters Topple One More Government Using Anime Pirate Flag

The president of Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina, has been forced out of office after a week of protests led by young people.

The military took control on Tuesday, just after lawmakers voted to impeach him. Rajoelina said in a speech from an undisclosed location on Monday night that he had left the country because he feared for his life after an elite military unit joined the protests.

This is the second government in just over a month to fall after youth-led demonstrations. Last month, protests in Nepal over a social media ban led to the resignation of its prime minister.

Across the globe, young people have been leading protests in Indonesia, the Philippines, East Timor, Peru, and Morocco, fueled by frustration over corruption, inequality, and poor living conditions.

The protests are connected in part by a shared symbol: a pirate flag from the Japanese anime One Piece. The flag shows a skull with a straw hat and crossbones. In the anime, the Straw Hat Pirates fight against unfair powers. Young protesters in Madagascar and other countries see themselves in these characters.

Katsuya Izumi, a senior lecturer at Trinity College, said young people are drawn to anime heroes “who are often depicted as minorities, who are marginalized, ignored and misunderstood by their societies.”

In Madagascar, protests started on September 25 in the capital, Antananarivo. The movement was largely organized by Gen Z Madagascar, a leaderless group using social media to spread messages. The group’s social media logo is the One Piece flag, adapted for Madagascar by replacing the straw hat with a traditional satroka bucket hat worn by the Betsileo ethnic group.

As the protests grew, demands expanded beyond basic services to include anger over inequality, corruption, and political impunity. Many protesters criticized Rajoelina, 51, who first came to power in a military-backed coup in 2009. To Ranaivoharijao, 26, from Gen Z Madagascar, told reporters,

“We just can’t take it anymore. The president is building a cable car in the capital, while most of the population is suffering from malnutrition, lack of clean water and power outages.”

Authorities responded with force, including tear gas, rubber bullets, and firearms. The United Nations reported at least 22 deaths during the protests, though the government has disputed this number.

Protesters say they were inspired by youth movements in Nepal and other countries. The One Piece pirate flag helped connect protesters across borders, spreading ideas of resistance through pop culture.

Ranaivoharijao said young people are relieved by the change in leadership but remain cautious. “We hope everything will go well. No one could do worse than what Rajoelina did,” he said, adding that they will “remain vigilant and engaged in discussion.”

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