US issues urgent ‘reconsider travel’ warning to this popular tourist destination

The US Department of State has issued a new warning for its citizens thinking of traveling to one country.

Advice to travellers warns people thinking of going to ‘reconsider travel’ after circumstances changed rapidly in the area.

Travel warnings are frequently updated to take account of current events.

This might mean a warning become more serious, advising against travel, or is downgraded if the situation in a country becomes more stable.

But recent events in one country have seen the US upgrade its warning ‘due to crime and unrest’, telling people: “U.S. citizens should stay in place and avoid areas with protests or demonstrations. Sporadic protests may develop quickly, especially after dark.”

Protestors adopting signs for the ‘Gen-Z protests’

The new advice is for people looking to travel to Madagascar, and has been upgraded as it experiences waves of ‘Gen-Z’ protests over longstanding power cuts and water outages.

President of Madagascar Andry Rajoelina has dissolved his government following the protests.

Taking to state broadcaster Televiziona Malagasy, Rajoelina said: “We acknowledge and apologise if members of the government have not carried out the tasks assigned to them.

“I understand the anger, the sadness, and the difficulties caused by power cuts and water supply problems. I heard the call, I felt the suffering, I understood the impact on daily life.”

Since Thursday (September 25), thousands of mostly younger protesters have taken to the streets with cries of ‘We want to live, not survive’.

Beginning in the capital Antananarivo, these have since spread to eight other cities in the country.

The response has been called ‘shocking’ by the UN

At least 22 people have been killed by security forces and hundreds injured as the civil unrest sweeps Madagascar, and the UN has condemned the use of ‘unnecessary force’ against protesters.

Police used tear gas and rubber bullets, and in an alarming development there have also been reports of beatings and live bullets being used against protesters.

The head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Volker Türk, has said in a statement that he was ‘shocked’ by the state’s use of force.

He said: “I urge the security forces to desist from the use of unnecessary and disproportionate force and to immediately release all arbitrarily detained protesters.”

The UN has said that those killed ‘include protesters and bystanders killed by members of the security forces’, as well as ‘others killed in subsequent widespread violence and looting by individuals and gangs not associated with the protesters’.

Protesters have displayed symbols used in other ‘Gen-Z’ protests in Nepal, as well as using social media to rapidly organize gatherings.