Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has declared that an illegal attempt to seize power is underway, following an unprecedented move by some soldiers who joined anti-government protests in the capital, Antananarivo.
The president made the statement on Sunday, stressing that the act defies the nation’s constitution and democratic principles.
On Saturday, a group of soldiers based on the outskirts of the capital urged their colleagues to “join forces” and “refuse orders to shoot,” condemning the violent suppression of ongoing youth-led demonstrations. The protests, which have persisted for over two weeks, were triggered by growing anger over electricity and water shortages.
The soldiers reportedly clashed with gendarmes near their barracks before entering the city on military trucks to join demonstrators gathered at the historic Place du 13 Mai. Protesters cheered their arrival, chanting for President Rajoelina’s resignation. In response, the presidency issued a statement confirming the situation as an “attempt to seize power illegally and by force” and called for calm and unity.
“Dialogue is the only way forward and the only solution to the crisis currently facing the country,” Rajoelina said, urging all sides to work together for national stability.
Meanwhile, officers of the gendarmerie released a video admitting to “faults and excesses during our interventions” and appealing for “fraternity” with the army. They declared that all future orders would come directly from their headquarters, saying, “We are here to protect, not to terrorise.”
The soldiers involved in the defection are from the CAPSAT contingent in Soanierana, an area known for its historical role in the 2009 mutiny that helped bring Rajoelina to power. As of Sunday night, the government confirmed that the president remained in the country, managing state affairs, while the newly appointed prime minister assured that the administration was “standing strong” and open to dialogue.
