Madagascar’s president, Andry Rajoelina, announced on Sunday that an attempted coup is currently taking place in the Indian Ocean nation, following a declaration from a prominent army unit known as CAPSAT, which has asserted control over the military and called for his resignation amidst ongoing anti-government protests.
In a statement from Rajoelina’s office, he indicated that he wishes to alert both the nation and the international community to what he termed an “attempt to seize power illegally and by force.” He expressed strong condemnation of this attempted destabilization, urging all national forces to come together to defend constitutional order and national sovereignty.
Military tensions rise amid protests
Details regarding the individuals responsible for the coup attempt were not disclosed by Rajoelina’s office, and there were no immediate signs of violence reported in the streets on Sunday. This unrest follows three weeks of significant protests, marked as some of the most substantial demonstrations the island has experienced in recent times.
On the same day, Madagascar’s Minister of Armed Forces acknowledged the appointment of a new army chief, selected by a military faction that supports the demonstrators calling for Rajoelina’s resignation. Armed Forces Minister Manantsoa Deramasinjaka Rakotoarivelo was present at the ceremony where General Demosthene Pikulas was designated as the new Chief of the Army Staff.
Death toll rises amid ongoing unrest
The protests are led by a movement known as “Gen Z Madagascar,” and the United Nations reports that at least 22 individuals have lost their lives, with numerous others injured during the demonstrations, a figure that has been contested by the government. The CAPSAT forces joined the protests over the weekend, which have been described as some of the largest since the unrest began on September 25.
Col. Michael Randrianirina, a commander of the CAPSAT unit, reported that his troops engaged in a firefight with security forces attempting to suppress the protests, resulting in the death of one of his soldiers. Speaking to the crowd from an armored vehicle, Randrianirina declared that Rajoelina, along with his new prime minister and the heads of the gendarmerie, “must leave power.” He further stated, “Do we call this a coup? I don’t know yet.”
The president’s current whereabouts remain unclear, but Rajoelina’s government insists that he is still in the country and has not fled. At 51 years old, Rajoelina initially came to power following a military-backed coup in 2009 that forced former President Marc Ravalomanana to flee. Although he returned to office in 2014, he has not held a leadership role since then.
In response to the escalating security situation, Air France announced on Sunday that flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport and Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital, will be suspended from October 11 to October 13. The airline stated that the resumption of operations will depend on ongoing assessments of the circumstances in Madagascar, noting their commitment to closely monitor the situation in collaboration with authorities.
Madagascar, home to approximately 31 million people and located off the east coast of Africa, has a history of political upheaval, with several leaders being displaced through coups since gaining independence from France in 1960.