Anti-government protests, have killed as many as 100 people and sparked fears of widespread political violence on the island.

Antananarivo Mayor Andry Rajoelina was fired as the capital's mayor on 3 February 2009 after he officially submitted the opposition's request for President Marc Ravalomanana's resignation to the Supreme Court the previous day. Rajoelina warned that he will unilaterally establish an interim government by 8 February if Ravalomanana refuses to step down from office. Rajoelina issued the ultimatum at a rally of approximately 2,000 people in the city's central square. Although the anti-government protests garnered widespread support when they began on 25 January, the number of participants in the rallies has dropped significantly as people continue to go back to work and businesses reopen, perhaps signaling that the opposition movement is losing momentum. It is not clear what effect Rajoelina's ouster will have on the future of the protests. The African Union and the international community have also condemned Rajoelina's power grab and have urged the opposition to engage in peaceful negotiations to end the political conflict. Meanwhile, authorities arrested six anti-government activists in Toamasina (Tamatave), which is Madagascar's principal port city, on 2 February. The opposition supporters were reportedly arrested for attempting to organise a public meeting without permission. The anti-government protests, which began in Antananarivo on 25 January, have killed as many as 100 people and sparked fears of widespread political violence on the island.