Madagascar’s presidency announced on Sunday that there is an ongoing attempt to seize power by force in the country as additional soldiers have joined a protest movement led by youth that has been causing upheaval in the former French colony for over two weeks. Members of the elite CAPSAT unit, which previously assisted President Andry Rajoelina in taking power in a coup in 2009, called on fellow soldiers to disregard orders and support the youth-led demonstrations. These protests, which commenced on September 25, present the most significant challenge to Rajoelina’s authority since his re-election in 2023.
CAPSAT officers declared on Sunday that they are in charge of the nation’s security operations and will coordinate all military branches from their headquarters on the outskirts of the capital city, Antananarivo. They mentioned appointing Gen. Demosthene Pikulas as the head of the army. Additionally, a faction of the paramilitary gendarmerie, which had previously worked alongside the police in handling the protests, defected from the government on Sunday.
The Intervention Forces of the National Gendarmerie released a statement broadcast on Real TV, emphasizing that any use of force or misconduct towards citizens is forbidden, asserting that the gendarmerie exists to safeguard the people and not to serve the interests of a select few. They declared coordination with CAPSAT headquarters.
The Defence Ministry and the military general staff opted not to provide any comments. A witness from Reuters observed three individuals injured after gunshots were heard near the road leading to the CAPSAT barracks on Sunday. However, witnesses mentioned no ongoing clashes in the area.
In an official statement on the presidency’s social media account, Rajoelina’s office stated that there is an “attempted illegal and forcible seizure of power” taking place, and the president is advocating for dialogue to resolve the crisis. Although Rajoelina’s whereabouts were unknown on Sunday, his office previously affirmed that he and the prime minister were effectively managing the nation’s affairs.
The demonstrations, which initially protested water and electricity shortages, were inspired by Gen Z-led movements in Kenya and Nepal. The protests have since expanded, with participants demanding Rajoelina’s resignation, an apology for violence against protesters, and the dissolution of the Senate and electoral commission. Some protesters have adopted a common symbol — a skull with a straw hat from the Japanese manga series One Piece — which has been used by youth-led demonstrators in various countries.
Thousands of protesters congregated in Antananarivo on Sunday to protest against the government and honor a deceased CAPSAT soldier, allegedly killed by the gendarmerie on Saturday. The peaceful gathering involved church leaders, opposition politicians, including former president Marc Ravalomanana, and CAPSAT troops.
Madagascar, a nation with a predominantly young population (median age below 20), has around 32 million inhabitants, with three-quarters living in poverty, as per the World Bank. Local media broadcasted a video showing numerous soldiers exiting the barracks on Saturday to escort thousands of demonstrators to May 13 Square in Antananarivo, a site of many political uprisings that had been heavily guarded and restricted during the unrest.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, appealed for calm and restraint amidst the situation. Due to the security conditions, Air France-KLM’s French division ceased flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport and Antananarivo from Saturday to Monday.
