Madagascar president flees nation after army unit joins anti-government protests

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Revealed on 14/10/2025 - 6:12 GMT+2 • Up to date 7:20

Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina says he has fled the nation in worry for his life following weekslong anti-government protests that led to a army rebel.

The continued Gen Z-led anti-government protests reached a pivotal level on Saturday when the elite army unit often called CAPSAT joined, calling for Rajoelina and his 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 pressured to discover a protected place to guard my life," Rajoelina stated in his late-night speech broadcast on the presidency's official Fb web page.

The speech 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, based on the president's workplace.

Rajoelina known as for dialogue “to discover a means out of this case” and stated the structure must be revered. He didn't say how he left Madagascar or the place he was, however a report claimed he was flown in a foreign country 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.

It's the most vital unrest going through the African island nation of 31 million folks since Rajoelina first got here to energy. It started on 25 September over continual water and electrical energy outages, snowballing into wider discontent with Rajoelina and his authorities.

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 distinguished in him first coming to energy.

'Violent response' to protests The CAPSAT unit stated it now controls all of the armed forces in Madagascar and has appointed a brand new officer answerable for the army, which was accepted by the protection minister in Rajoelina's absence.

A CAPSAT commander, Michael Randrianirina stated his troopers had determined to face with protesters, however denied there was a coup. He advised reporters that it was as much as the Madagascan folks to determine what occurs subsequent.

Whereas CAPSAT troopers exchanged fireplace with safety forces over the weekend, there was no main combating on the streets, and troopers driving on armored automobiles and waving Madagascar flags have been cheered by folks within the capital Antananarivo.

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

Madagascar’s former prime minister underneath 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 happy” that the non-public airplane had landed on its territory.

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