Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina has reportedly fled the African country, according to the opposition leader and other officials. This is the second case in recent weeks of young protesters overthrowing a government amid a global wave of Gen Z unrest.
Sunday Randrian Randrianasolani, the parshimentary opposition leader, informs Reuters that Mr. Rajoelina of the Madagascar department is Sunday.
The president’s office, which had previously announced a national address for Monday evening, declined to comment on the unfolding situation. Rajoelina was due to deliver a national address following an apparent coup attempt by an elite military unit, CAPSAT, which publicly demanded his resignation after joining anti-government protests.
The unit previously played a key role in bringing Rajoelina to power as transition leader during a military-backed coup in 2009. CAPSAT has since claimed to have taken control of all armed forces in Madagascar.
The president flees the country
A military source told Reuters that Rajoelina flew out of the country on a French military plane on Sunday. French radio RFI said he had struck a deal with President Emmanuel Macron.
The source said a French army Casa plane landed at Madagascar’s Sainte Marie airport on Sunday. “Five minutes later, a helicopter arrived and took the passenger to the Casa,” the source said, adding that Rajoelina was the passenger.
“We called the presidency staff and they confirmed that he has left the country,” Randrianasoloniaiko said, adding that Rajoelina’s current whereabouts were unknown.
The president’s office, which had previously said Rajoelina would address the nation at 7pm (4pm GMT) on Monday, did not respond to requests for comment.
In response to the reports, the French Foreign Ministry referred The Associated Press to a statement from the French embassy saying that “no French military intervention is underway or planned in Madagascar, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of which France fully respects.”
Madagascar is a former French colony, while Rajoelina reportedly has French citizenship, which has previously been a source of discontent among Madagascars.
Elite unit claims control of army
Rajoelina did not identify who was behind the attempted coup, but the CAPSAT military unit appeared to be in a position of authority and on Sunday appointed a general as the new head of Madagascar’s armed forces, which was accepted by the defense minister.
A CAPSAT commander, Col. Michael Randrianirina, said his soldiers exchanged gunfire with security forces trying to quell the weekend protests, and one of his soldiers was killed. But there were no major clashes in the streets, and soldiers riding on armored vehicles and waving Madagascar flags were cheered by people in Antananarivo.
Randrianirina said the military had “responded to the people’s calls” but denied there was a coup. Speaking at the country’s military headquarters on Sunday, he told reporters that it is up to the Madagascar people to decide what happens next, including whether Rajoelina leaves power and new elections are held.
The U.S. Embassy in Madagascar advised U.S. citizens to shelter in place due to a “highly volatile and unpredictable” situation. The African Union has called on all parties, “both civilians and military, to exercise calm and restraint.”
Weeks of protests against the government
Madagascar has been rocked by three weeks of the greatest unrest in years. The protests, which broke out on September 25 over water and electricity outages, were led by a group calling itself “Gen Z Madagascar.” The United Nations says at least 22 people were killed and dozens injured during the demonstrations. The government has disputed this number.
The demonstrations culminated in greater dissatisfaction with the government and Rajoelina’s leadership. Protesters have raised a range of issues, including poverty and the cost of living, access to tertiary education and alleged corruption and embezzlement of public funds by government officials and their families and associates.
Civic groups and unions have also joined the protests, leading to night-time curfews in Antananarivo and other major cities. Curfews were still in effect in Antananarivo and the northern port city of Antsiranana.
The Gen Z protesters who inspired the uprising have mobilized online, saying they were inspired by other protests that toppled governments in Nepal and Sri Lanka.
A history of political crises
Madagascar has had several leaders ousted in coups and has a history of political crises since gaining independence from France in 1960.
Rajoelina, 51, first came to prominence as leader of a transitional government following a 2009 coup that forced then-President Marc Ravalomanana to flee the country and lose power. Rajoelina was elected president in 2018 and re-elected in 2023 after a vote boycotted by opposition parties.
Additional reporting by Reuters.
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