Madagascar’s former Senate president, Richard Ravalomanana, has been sentenced to 10 years of hard labour after being convicted of complicity in murder over his alleged role in the deadly crackdown on youth-led protests in 2025.

Ravalomanana, a retired general and close ally of former President Andry Rajoelina, was handed the sentence on Tuesday after a court found him guilty in connection with violence during demonstrations that rocked the country last year.

The former Senate president denied the allegations and said he would appeal the conviction.

Prosecutors had accused Ravalomanana of using his influence over security forces to direct violent action against protesters during demonstrations in September and October 2025.

The protests initially erupted over persistent shortages of water and electricity but later developed into a broader movement against Rajoelina’s administration.

At least 22 people were killed and more than 100 others injured during the unrest, according to figures attributed to the United Nations and cited by local media.

The demonstrations contributed to a political crisis that ultimately resulted in Rajoelina’s removal from office and the emergence of a new administration led by Col Michael Randrianirina.

Ravalomanana was removed from his position as Senate president in October 2025, shortly after the protests. He was subsequently arrested in December after failing to respond to a summons from the gendarmerie.

He spent approximately seven months in pre-trial detention at a high-security prison outside Madagascar’s capital, Antananarivo, before Tuesday’s judgment.

Prosecutors argued during the trial that Ravalomanana used his authority and connections within the gendarmerie to influence the security response to the demonstrations.

The defence, however, rejected the allegations and maintained that there was no evidence showing that Ravalomanana ordered police officers, gendarmes or soldiers to use force against protesters.

A former national police chief who testified during the proceedings also told the court that Ravalomanana was not part of the operational chain of command during the unrest.

His lawyer further challenged the prosecution’s case, questioning whether prosecutors had produced any written or verbal directive that directly connected the former Senate president to the violence.

The court also considered a separate allegation involving a death threat but dismissed the charge, ruling that the allegation was too old to be prosecuted.

Ravalomanana is also the subject of a separate corruption investigation.

He is among several senior figures associated with Rajoelina’s former government who have faced legal proceedings following the change in political leadership.

The conviction and sentence represent a significant development in Madagascar’s continuing efforts to address the violence and political turmoil surrounding the 2025 protests.

Ravalomanana’s decision to appeal means the legal battle over his alleged role in the crackdown is expected to continue.