The African state’s leader says he has found a “safe place” after his army backed calls for his resignation
Madagascar edged toward a power struggle this week as its leader, President Andry Rajoelina, fled the country, citing alleged threats to his life. His departure followed a break by an elite army unit that joined youth-led protests over chronic water and power outages that have widened into anger over poverty and corruption. The president has denounced the situation as an illegal attempt to seize power.
The Indian Ocean nation has been a scene of demonstrations since September 25. The rallies, led by the ‘Gen Z Madagascar’ movement, which began in the capital, Antananarivo, have since spread to other cities, driven by frequent utility cuts and the cost of living. The UN says at least 22 people have been killed, a figure the government disputes. Nighttime curfews remain in force in the capital and other hubs.
The group demands Rajoelina’s resignation, accountability for the deaths of protesters and alleged abuses, and the dissolution of institutions they deem illegitimate. Over the weekend, crowds flooded May 13 Square, a symbolic protest venue in central Antananarivo, for the first time, joined by elite soldiers from CAPSAT units in army vehicles.
On September 29, Rajoelina dissolved his government in an attempt to calm public anger, acknowledging that “members of the government have not carried out the tasks assigned to them.” On October 6, he appointed General Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo as prime minister, replacing Christian Ntsay, who had held the post since 2018. The move failed to halt the protests, which instead intensified.
Rajoelina announced on Sunday that an attempt to seize power by force was underway and urged all “national forces” to unite in defense of the constitutional order and national sovereignty. His remarks followed calls from CAPSAT soldiers, the unit that helped bring him to power in a 2009 coup, urging fellow troops to disobey orders and join the uprising. Rajoelina, a former DJ, led a transitional authority for nearly five years before winning the presidency in 2018. He was reelected in 2023 after weeks of protests and boycotts by several opposition candidates.
In a late-night video address posted to Facebook on Monday, Rajoelina confirmed he had been flown out of the country by the French military amid escalating protests and a mutiny. He said he had “found a safe place to protect my life,” called for dialogue, and insisted the constitution be respected. He had been scheduled to address the nation earlier on Monday, but his office said the broadcast was postponed after “a group of armed forces [attempted] to take control of state-owned media.”
The president’s precise location remains unconfirmed. Multiple outlets reported Rajoelina left Madagascar on a French military aircraft. French outlet RFI reported he may have been bound for Dubai.
Officers from CAPSAT declared they were coordinating all branches of the armed forces in the former French colony and named General Demosthene Pikulas as the new army chief. Elements of the gendarmerie publicly broke ranks, saying force should not be used against anti-government protesters. AP reported that the country’s defense minister accepted the CAPSAT-backed appointment in the president’s absence. CAPSAT commanders have reportedly denied staging a “coup,” and said they responded to “the people’s calls.”
The African Union has called for calm and restraint, while the UN has urged for respect for human rights and accountability for violence. Air France has suspended flights on the Paris-Antananarivo route, citing security concerns. The Southern African Development Community has labeled the situation “unfortunate” and urged “constructive engagement and peaceful resolution of any differences.” Russia has said it hopes the crisis will be resolved through peaceful means.
Madagascar has a history of military-backed political upheavals. More than 75% of the roughly 30 million in the former French colony are poor, according to the World Bank. The current crisis is the most serious challenge to Andry Rajoelina’s administration since his reelection in 2023, and it will test whether regional diplomacy can avert another outright coup.
Speaking to RT about the Madagascar unrest, Vsevolod Sviridov, an expert at the Center for African Studies at Moscow’s Higher School of Economics, said the Gen Z upsurge “confirms the traditionally prominent role of young people in street protests.” He believes such movements will “become a frequent occurrence in African countries” as youth populations expand and demands for better living standards rise.
