Madagascar president hiding in ‘secure place’ as he warns of coup try

[ad_1] Natasha Booty and

Sammy Awami BBC Africa, Antananarivo

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/a210/live/e796d890-a878-11f0-8d21-ad9b41c65325.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/a210/live/e796d890-a878-11f0-8d21-ad9b41c65325.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/a210/live/e796d890-a878-11f0-8d21-ad9b41c65325.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/a210/live/e796d890-a878-11f0-8d21-ad9b41c65325.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/a210/live/e796d890-a878-11f0-8d21-ad9b41c65325.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/a210/live/e796d890-a878-11f0-8d21-ad9b41c65325.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/a210/live/e796d890-a878-11f0-8d21-ad9b41c65325.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/a210/live/e796d890-a878-11f0-8d21-ad9b41c65325.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Reuters A man wearing black-rimmed glasses and in a blue suit with a red tie speaking into two microphones, holding up his hand as he speaks" class="sc-5340b511-0 bGQwLJ"/> Reuters Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina pictured final week - he has not been seen since final Wednesday

Madagascar's embattled President Andry Rajoelina has mentioned he's sheltering in a "secure place" after an try on his life, following weeks of protests calling for him to give up.

In a reside broadcast to the nation on Fb, Rajoelina, 51, mentioned "a bunch of army personnel and politicians deliberate to assassinate me".

He didn't reveal his location, however unconfirmed experiences earlier urged that he had fled the nation on a French army plane.

It follows a fortnight of nationwide protests, primarily led by younger demonstrators, geared toward kicking him out of energy.

Rajoelina's failed makes an attempt to placate the younger protesters - dubbed "Gen Z Mada" - noticed the president sack his whole authorities and make different concessions to no avail.

He has not been seen since Wednesday, and on the weekend Rajoelina's workplace mentioned an try was below technique to pressure him from energy.

His handle to the nation was delayed a number of instances on Monday amid the chaos, as troopers threatened to grab the state TV headquarters within the Indian Ocean island.

Finally, within the Fb broadcast he mentioned: "Since 25 September, there have been makes an attempt on my life and coup makes an attempt. A gaggle of army personnel and politicians deliberate to assassinate me.

"I used to be compelled to discover a secure place to guard my life."

"There is just one technique to resolve these points; that's to respect the structure in pressure within the nation".

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/b8c9/live/eaeb28f0-a852-11f0-928c-71dbb8619e94.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/b8c9/live/eaeb28f0-a852-11f0-928c-71dbb8619e94.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/b8c9/live/eaeb28f0-a852-11f0-928c-71dbb8619e94.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/b8c9/live/eaeb28f0-a852-11f0-928c-71dbb8619e94.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/b8c9/live/eaeb28f0-a852-11f0-928c-71dbb8619e94.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/b8c9/live/eaeb28f0-a852-11f0-928c-71dbb8619e94.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/b8c9/live/eaeb28f0-a852-11f0-928c-71dbb8619e94.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/b8c9/live/eaeb28f0-a852-11f0-928c-71dbb8619e94.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="AFP via Getty Images Residents and protesters cheer and hold banners as they gather for a civil society rally outside City Hall in Antananarivo, on Monday." class="sc-5340b511-0 bGQwLJ"/> AFP by way of Getty Pictures Younger folks spearheaded nationwide rallies demanding a fairer deal for residents

Over the weekend, CAPSAT, a strong military unit that helped set up Rajoelina into energy in 2009 moved to undermine him by declaring itself accountable for all of the armed forces, whereas a few of its officers joined protesters on the streets of the capital, Antananarivo.

Following a gathering of army commanders on Monday, the brand new Chief of Military Workers put in by CAPSAT, Gen Demosthene Pikulas, assured the general public that the safety forces have been working collectively to take care of order within the island nation.

By Monday night, the overall was at state TV headquarters attempting to resolve the disaster, in line with a press release from the presidency.

Talking on situation of anonymity, a senior chief in Madagascar's largest opposition occasion, TIM, informed the BBC that Madagascar was now successfully being run by the military unit.

The TIM occasion has additionally mentioned that it plans to deliver impeachment proceedings towards Rajoelina for "abandonment of publish".

A number of of Rajoelina's interior circle have fled to close by Mauritius. They embrace former Prime Minister Christian Ntsay and the businessman Maminiaina Ravatomanga.

Regardless of its ample pure assets, Madagascar is among the poorest international locations on the earth. About 75% of individuals there reside under the poverty line, the World Financial institution says, whereas information from the Worldwide Financial Fund (IMF) exhibits simply over one-third of individuals have entry to electrical energy.

The protests started over anger with repeated water and energy cuts, then escalated to mirror wider dissatisfaction with Rajoelina's authorities over excessive unemployment, corruption and the cost-of-living disaster.

Not less than 22 folks have been killed and greater than 100 injured within the first few days of the protests, in line with the UN, though the federal government has rejected these figures.

Eyewitnesses describe safety officers opening hearth on protesters with reside ammunition. In a single case, a new child child died from smoke inhalation after being uncovered to tear fuel.

Madagascar has been rocked by a number of uprisings because it gained independence in 1960, together with mass protests in 2009 that compelled then-President Marc Ravalomanana to step down and noticed Rajoelina ushered into workplace.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/6457/live/68364c30-a859-11f0-92db-77261a15b9d2.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/6457/live/68364c30-a859-11f0-92db-77261a15b9d2.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/6457/live/68364c30-a859-11f0-92db-77261a15b9d2.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/6457/live/68364c30-a859-11f0-92db-77261a15b9d2.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/6457/live/68364c30-a859-11f0-92db-77261a15b9d2.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/6457/live/68364c30-a859-11f0-92db-77261a15b9d2.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/6457/live/68364c30-a859-11f0-92db-77261a15b9d2.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/6457/live/68364c30-a859-11f0-92db-77261a15b9d2.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="AFP via Getty Images Andry Rajoelina waves in France in 2023. He is wearing a smart suit and classes." class="sc-5340b511-0 bGQwLJ"/> AFP by way of Getty Pictures Andry Rajoelina pictured in France in 2023

Aged simply 34 on the time, Rajoelina grew to become Africa's youngest chief - happening to manipulate for 4 years, then returning to energy once more after the 2018 election.

Rajoelina was born into wealth and, earlier than getting into politics, had made a reputation for himself as an entrepreneur and DJ - establishing a radio station and an promoting firm alongside the way in which.

However his sharp-suited, baby-faced enchantment quickly waned, as allegations of cronyism and entrenched corruption grew to become unshakeable.

Extra on Madagascar's disaster:

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images/BBC A woman looking at her mobile phone and the graphic BBC News Africa" class="sc-5340b511-0 bGQwLJ"/> Getty Pictures/BBC [ad_2] Source link