Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina revealed that he left the country due to safety concerns amidst a military uprising but did not tender his resignation in a televised address on Monday night from an undisclosed location. Rajoelina has been confronted by weeks of demonstrations led by Gen Z, which escalated when an elite military unit joined the protests and demanded the president and other government officials step down. This prompted Rajoelina to describe the situation as an illegal power grab on the island and depart the country.
In his late-night speech, Rajoelina acknowledged that he sought refuge to ensure his safety after a failed attempt by soldiers to take control of state broadcaster buildings. These remarks marked his first public statement since the CAPSAT military unit rebelled against his administration during a coup and aligned with demonstrators in Antananarivo over the weekend. Rajoelina advocated for dialogue to resolve the crisis and emphasized the importance of upholding the constitution. However, he did not disclose how he exited Madagascar or his current whereabouts, although reports suggest he was flown out of the country on a French military aircraft.
A French Foreign Ministry representative declined to comment on these claims. Notably, Madagascar, a former French colony, has been discontented with Rajoelina’s reported French citizenship for some time. The unrest began on September 25 over persistent water and electricity shortages but has since evolved into broader dissatisfaction with Rajoelina and his administration.
This wave of protests represents the most significant turmoil in the nation since Rajoelina assumed power through a military-backed coup in 2009. The same CAPSAT military unit that rebelled against Rajoelina was instrumental in his initial rise to power in 2009.
Rajoelina has not identified the orchestrators of the coup attempt, but the CAPSAT unit claims to have assumed control of all armed forces in Madagascar and appointed a new military leader, a decision endorsed by the defense minister in Rajoelina’s absence. CAPSAT appears to wield authority and is supported by other military factions, including the gendarmerie security forces.
Colonel Michael Randrianirina, a commander of CAPSAT, asserted that the army stood with the protesters in response to public demands and denied a coup. Speaking from the country’s military headquarters, he stated that the future course of action should be determined by the Malagasy people, potentially leading to new elections if Rajoelina steps down.
Randrianirina recounted that his troops engaged in gunfire with security forces attempting to disperse weekend protests, resulting in the death of one soldier. Despite these clashes, there was no widespread violence on the streets, and soldiers displaying Madagascar flags on armored vehicles were cheered by Antananarivo residents.
Amid the volatile situation, the U.S. Embassy in Madagascar advised American citizens to remain indoors. The African Union urged all parties, civilian and military alike, to exercise restraint and maintain calm.
Gen Z Madagascar initiated the demonstrations that have plagued Madagascar for three weeks, causing at least 22 fatalities and numerous injuries, according to the United Nations. The authorities’ forceful response to mostly peaceful protests drew criticism, although the government contests the death toll.
The protesters have raised concerns about poverty, living costs, access to higher education, alleged corruption by government officials and their associates, triggering support from civic groups and trade unions. Antananarivo and Antsiranana are under curfew, a measure imposed in response to the protests.
The Gen Z activists, inspired by successful uprisings in Nepal and Sri Lanka, utilized online mobilization to spark the movement. Madagascar has a history of political turbulence, with several coups and crises since gaining independence from France in 1960.
Rajoelina, aged 51, ascended to power after the 2009 coup that ousted then-President Marc Ravalomanana. He won the presidential elections in 2018 and 2023, despite opposition party boycotts. Additionally, Madagascar’s former prime minister and a key advisor to Rajoelina fled to Mauritius, raising tensions as the Mauritian government expressed dissatisfaction over their arrival on the island.
