Police disperse angry traders with tear gas in Behoririka
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on NewsMada
Traders in Behoririka, Antananarivo, clashed with security forces after shops and public toilets were demolished on 31 October 2026. Police dispersed the protesters with tear gas, and clashes lasted several hours, reports NewsMada.
The urban commune of Antananarivo demolished shops set up around Lake Behoririka on Saturday 31 October, triggering clashes with vendors who opposed the operation. Police dispersed the protesters with tear gas after stones were thrown and tyres were set alight on the road, reports NewsMada.
The traders said a bailiff had told them that the evacuation deadline had expired, while they believed they were supposed to leave in January after discussions with the commune. Several belongings were left under the rubble or were lost during the demolition carried out by a bulldozer, according to vendors quoted by NewsMada. The commune justified the operation with its project to clean up and rehabilitate the lake, aimed at limiting rising water levels during the rainy season.
The demolition followed the cleaning of a canal in Behoririka, announced on 10 October to reduce the risk of flooding in the area.
