Gathered in regional consultation in the North of the country, young people from Antsiranana have expressed their frustration with a system deemed too centralized and demanded an effective transfer of decision-making power to local authorities. Young Antsiranans demonstrated their pride in being able to express their needs during the regional consultation.

During the regional youth consultation in the Diana region, held last weekend, Antsiranana's youth are calling for an effective transfer of decision-making power, competencies, and financial resources to local authorities, so that development decisions are made as close as possible to local realities and are no longer dictated solely from the capital.

Between demands for genuine regional power, defense of Malagasy culture, the electricity crisis, and the question of sharing tourism revenues, the two-day debates highlighted deep frustration with a system deemed too centralized.

Young people's voices were particularly heard during this regional consultation meeting organized in the North. Facing local development challenges, they advocated for effective decentralization, going beyond mere statements of principle. For them, territories must no longer limit themselves to implementing decisions made at the central level, but become true actors in their own development.

Sufficient Margin

At the heart of their demands, young people believe that regions better understand their priorities, urgencies, and potential. In the North, issues related to employment, training, infrastructure, agriculture, tourism, environment, and entrepreneurship require responses adapted to the local context. Yet these responses can only be effective if regional authorities have sufficient decision-making flexibility.

On this occasion, discussions notably focused on languages used in schools, language degradation in public spaces, evolution of dress codes, and the growing influence of Western models. Some speakers also denounced the introduction of practices deemed contrary to Malagasy values, such as same-sex marriage. "Only our own culture can move us forward," emphasized Tom, spokesperson, while alerting to the concerning situation of out-of-school girls, sometimes forced into prostitution at an early age.

The school curriculum also sparked animated debates in commission. Some young people feel marginalized in the development of content, deemed too focused on the capital's history. They demand better consideration of historical figures, writers, sovereigns, and personalities specific to each territory.

On the institutional level, several participants defended the idea of a federal Constitution, presented as a solution to the country's deadlocks. Others expressed reservations, believing that the concept of federalism remains poorly understood and could lead to abuses.

Another strong proposal emerged: abandoning the parliamentary system in favor of a presidential regime, due to political instability and frequent reversals by elected officials. Some even advocated for clarification of the political landscape around two major blocs, left and right, without questioning the principle of separation of powers.

Regarding environment and tourism, young people emphasized the need to retain locally the revenues generated in territories, particularly in Nosy Be and throughout the region. According to them, these resources must no longer be systematically centralized in the capital, but serve directly regional development.