The recent wave of civil unrest in Madagascar has prompted a significant shift in communication methods among protesters, who are increasingly turning to offline tools. This trend has emerged prominently in September, marking the third instance of such a shift this month.
Protests Erupt Over Power Cuts
On September 25, 2025, Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, became the epicenter of demonstrations as hundreds of residents took to the streets, fueled by frustration over daily power cuts exceeding 12 hours. What began as a peaceful assembly quickly escalated into violence. By midday Thursday, looters targeted various establishments, including retail stores, banks, and electronics shops. The unrest led to the destruction of cable car stations and the homes of three pro-government politicians, resulting in five fatalities, according to hospital reports.
In response, law enforcement deployed rubber bullets and tear gas, while authorities instituted a curfew from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. to restore order. The situation prompted President Andry Rajoelina to dismiss his energy minister, acknowledging the official’s failure to address the ongoing crisis.
The movement, dubbed “Leo Délestage” (meaning “Fed up with load shedding”), was spearheaded by three municipal officials from Antananarivo. By Saturday, demonstrators returned to the streets, brandishing signs that proclaimed, “We are poor, angry and unhappy” and “Madagascar is ours.”
Bitchat Searches Hit Peak Levels
As the protests intensified, the interest in Bitchat, an offline messaging app, surged dramatically. Google Trends data indicated that searches for “Bitchat” soared from zero to a peak popularity score of 100 on Friday in Madagascar, particularly in Antananarivo. Related queries such as “Bitchat download” and “how to use Bitchat” also saw significant increases, marking them as breakout topics.
Callebtc, a Bitcoin developer involved with Bitchat, confirmed the spike in downloads, stating, “Bitchat downloads spiking in Madagascar.” According to Chrome-Stats data, the app has been downloaded 365,307 times since its launch in July, with over 21,000 downloads occurring in the last 24 hours and more than 71,000 in the past week. While specific regional data is not available, the timing aligns closely with the protests in Madagascar.
Why Protesters Need Offline Apps
Madagascar grapples with significant digital inequality. As of early 2025, only 6.6 million of the nearly 32 million residents had internet access, as reported by DataReportal. Although there are approximately 18 million mobile connections, many users rely solely on voice calls and text messages without internet capabilities. The World Bank estimates that 75% of Madagascar’s population lived below the poverty line in 2022, positioning the nation among the poorest globally.
Bitchat addresses a crucial need for protesters: effective communication in an environment where internet access is limited or closely monitored. The app operates entirely over Bluetooth, creating mesh networks among nearby devices, allowing messages to traverse distances of up to 300 meters by relaying through other users’ phones. Importantly, Bitchat requires no accounts, email addresses, or phone numbers, ensuring that messages remain stored only in device memory and are not held on any central database. End-to-end encryption further safeguards conversations from potential surveillance.
A Pattern Emerges Across Asia and Africa
Madagascar is not alone in experiencing a surge in Bitchat downloads during times of political unrest. Earlier in September, Nepal saw a ban on 26 major social media platforms amid youth protests against government corruption, leading to an explosion in Bitchat downloads from 3,300 to over 48,000 within a week. Protesters utilized the app to organize demonstrations after losing access to platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, and Instagram.
Similarly, Indonesia witnessed a notable increase in Bitchat adoption during protests against parliamentary allowances in late August and early September, with approximately 11,000 downloads occurring after police violence against a young rideshare driver. This emerging pattern suggests that when governments impose communication restrictions or when internet access fails, individuals increasingly seek out decentralized alternatives.
What Makes Bitchat Different
Launched in beta by Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter and CEO of Block, in July 2025, Bitchat operates on Bluetooth Low Energy mesh networks, eliminating the need for an internet connection or central servers. While similar applications, such as Bridgefy, gained traction during Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests, Bitchat distinguishes itself through its complete decentralization and privacy features. The app has no infrastructure dependencies, and user IDs are randomly generated for each session, utilizing nickname-based identification without permanent binding.
Dorsey described the system in his white paper as providing “resilient communication that works anywhere people gather, regardless of internet availability.” The app supports room-based chats with hashtag-named groups and optional password protection, enhancing its utility for users in crisis situations.
The Road Ahead
As protests in Madagascar show no signs of abating, President Rajoelina faces ongoing demonstrations despite the dismissal of his energy minister. Organizers are advocating for continued peaceful gatherings, while authorities anticipate further unrest in the days to come. The rising adoption of Bitchat underscores an increasing demand for censorship-resistant communication tools. When traditional networks falter or governmental restrictions are imposed, individuals are drawn to alternatives that are less susceptible to control or monitoring.
For Madagascar’s protesters, Bitchat serves as a vital resource—a means to coordinate efforts, disseminate information, and maintain communication amidst infrastructural failures. The app’s potential to address deeper issues of poverty, corruption, and failing infrastructure remains uncertain, yet it currently provides a critical platform for voices that might otherwise go unheard.
When the Lights Go Out, the Network Stays On
The Bitchat phenomenon in Madagascar exemplifies the adaptability of technology in times of crisis. With three countries turning to offline messaging solutions within a single month, the trend suggests that as internet censorship and infrastructural challenges become more prevalent, decentralized communication tools may evolve from niche applications to essential utilities. For protesters in Madagascar facing prolonged blackouts, this transition has already taken place.
