Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina flees nation after army riot : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1280x832+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3f%2F32%2F9e3dcd3048b582c11c5c4c75cd68%2Fap25286429196033.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1280x832+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3f%2F32%2F9e3dcd3048b582c11c5c4c75cd68%2Fap25286429196033.jpg" class="img" alt="President Andry Rajoelina addresses a state ceremony, Sept. 2, 2025, in Antananarivo, Madagascar." fetchpriority="high"/> President Andry Rajoelina addresses a state ceremony, Sept. 2, 2025, in Antananarivo, Madagascar. Alexander Joe/AP cover caption

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Alexander Joe/AP ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina stated he has fled the nation in concern for his life following a army riot however didn't announce his resignation in a speech broadcast on social media late Monday from an undisclosed location.

Rajoelina has confronted weeks of Gen Z-led anti-government protests, which reached a pivotal level on Saturday when an elite army unit joined the protests and known as for the president and different authorities ministers to step down. That prompted Rajoelina to say that an unlawful try and seize energy was underway within the Indian Ocean island and depart the nation.

"I used to be compelled to discover a secure place to guard my life," Rajoelina stated in his late-night speech, which was additionally meant to be proven on Madagascar tv however was delayed for hours after troopers tried to take management of the state broadcaster buildings, in accordance with the president's workplace.

The speech was in the end broadcast on the presidency's official Fb web page however not on nationwide TV.

They have been Rajoelina's first public feedback for the reason that CAPSAT army unit turned in opposition to his authorities in an obvious coup and joined hundreds of protesters rallying in a essential sq. within the capital, Antananarivo, over the weekend.

Rajoelina known as for dialogue "to discover a method out of this case" and stated the structure needs to be revered. He didn't say how he left Madagascar or the place he was, however a report claimed he was flown overseas on a French army airplane.

A French Overseas Ministry spokesperson declined to touch upon that report.

Madagascar is a former French colony and Rajoelina reportedly has French citizenship, which has been a supply of discontent for some Madagascans for years.

The anti-government protests started on Sept. 25 over power water and electrical energy outages however have snowballed into wider discontent with Rajoelina and his authorities.

It's the most important unrest within the island nation of 31 million folks off the east coast of Africa since Rajoelina himself first got here to energy because the chief of a transitional authorities following a 2009 military-backed coup.

The identical elite CAPSAT army unit that rebelled in opposition to Rajoelina was outstanding in him first coming to energy in 2009.

Elite unit claims to regulate the army <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4983x3322+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F50%2F85%2F401bab2f4c938817aef60df3f76c%2Fap25285628790888.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4983x3322+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F50%2F85%2F401bab2f4c938817aef60df3f76c%2Fap25285628790888.jpg" class="img" alt="Soldiers are greeted by people gathering for a ceremony in tribute to demonstrators killed during recent anti-government protest in Antananarivo, Madagascar, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025." loading="lazy"/> Troopers are greeted by folks gathering for a ceremony in tribute to demonstrators killed throughout current anti-government protest in Antananarivo, Madagascar, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. Mamyrael/AP cover caption

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Mamyrael/AP Rajoelina hasn't recognized who was behind this tried coup, however the CAPSAT unit has stated it now controls all of the armed forces in Madagascar and has appointed a brand new officer in command of the army, which was accepted by the protection minister in Rajoelina's absence.

CAPSAT seems to be ready of authority and likewise has the backing of different army models, together with the gendarmerie safety forces.

A commander of CAPSAT, Col. Michael Randrianirina, stated the military had "responded to the folks's calls" however denied there was a coup. Talking on the nation's army headquarters on Sunday, he advised reporters that it was as much as the Madagascan folks to determine what occurs subsequent, and if Rajoelina leaves energy and a brand new election is held.

Randrianirina stated his troopers had determined to face with protesters and had exchanged gunfire with safety forces who have been trying to quell weekend protests, and one among his troopers was killed. However there was no main preventing on the streets, and troopers using on armored autos and waving Madagascar flags have been cheered by folks in Antananarivo.

The U.S. Embassy in Madagascar nonetheless suggested Americans to shelter in place due to a "extremely risky and unpredictable" state of affairs. The African Union urged all events, "each civilian and army, to train calm and restraint."

Weeks of protests Madagascar has been shaken by three weeks of lethal anti-government protests that have been initially led by a gaggle calling itself "Gen Z Madagascar."

The United Nations says the demonstrations left at the very least 22 folks lifeless and dozens injured and criticized Madagascan authorities for a "violent response" to what have been largely peaceable protests within the early days of the motion. The federal government has disputed the variety of deaths.

The demonstrators have introduced up a variety of points, together with poverty and the price of residing, entry to tertiary training, and alleged corruption and embezzlement of public funds by authorities officers, in addition to their households and associates.

Civic teams and commerce unions additionally joined the protests, which resulted in nighttime curfews being enforced in Antananarivo and different main cities. Curfews have been nonetheless in impact in Antananarivo and the northern port metropolis of Antsiranana.

The Gen Z protesters who began the rebellion have mobilized over the web and say they have been impressed by the protests that toppled governments in Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Historical past of political crises Madagascar has had a number of leaders eliminated in coups and has a historical past of political crises because it gained independence from France in 1960.

The 51-year-old Rajoelina first got here to prominence because the chief of a transitional authorities following the 2009 coup that compelled then-President Marc Ravalomanana to flee the nation and lose energy. Rajoelina was elected president in 2018 and reelected in 2023 in a vote boycotted by opposition events.

Madagascar's former prime minister beneath Rajoelina and one of many president's closest advisers have additionally fled the nation and arrived within the close by island of Mauritius within the predawn hours Sunday, the Mauritian authorities stated. Mauritius stated it was "not glad" that the personal airplane had landed on its territory.