BY OSABUOHIEN VIVIAN ROSE
Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina confirmed on Monday that he has gone into hiding in a “safe place” following an alleged assassination attempt as a mutiny within the army and nationwide protests threaten to topple his government.
A military source told the Reuters news agency that Rajoelina left the country on Sunday on board a French army aircraft although President Emmanuel Macron refused to confirm that his government had played a role.
Hours after Rajoelina spoke of “an attempt to seize power illegally and by force”, the army’s elite CAPSAT unit, which played a key role in the 2009 coup that first brought Rajoelina to power, said it had taken control of the military.
It had earlier announced it would “refuse orders to shoot” demonstrators.
Police back protesters
On Tuesday, a privately owned news website in Madagascar, 2424.mg, reported that the police had joined the military and gendarmerie in backing the demonstrations.
Led by Gen Z groups, the antigovernment protests began on September 25, initially to express anger over water and power outages. However, they soon expanded to encompass wider grievances over the cost of living, poverty and alleged government corruption, fuelling widespread calls for Rajoelina’s resignation.
Rajoelina, who positioned himself as a reformist, led a transitional government until 2014, stepping aside to restore constitutional order. He returned after winning the 2019 election and secured a second full term in 2023.
According to the United Nations, at least 22 people have been killed and more than 100 injured since the demonstrations began although Rajoelina’s government disputed these figures.
One CAPSAT soldier died in fighting with the gendarmerie on Saturday before a widespread move by the country’s security forces to support the demonstrations.
The Gen Z Madagascar movement has drawn inspiration from recent uprisings that have challenged governments in several countries, including Kenya, Indonesia and Peru.
Such youth-led demonstrations in South Asia have unseated governments in Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Gen Z Madagascar had refused government offers for peaceful dialogue despite efforts by Rajoelina’s administration.
