Antananarivo, Madagascar: A speech by Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina is scheduled for national television on Monday, following an apparent coup attempt in the Indian Ocean nation. An elite military unit has turned against the government, urging Rajoelina to resign.
The President's office confirmed that the address would be broadcast on state television and radio at 7 p.m. local time (1600 GMT). However, they did not confirm if Rajoelina is currently in Madagascar, amid speculation that he fled following extended anti-government protests.
The protests, beginning as youth-led demonstrations, intensified when on Saturday soldiers from the elite CAPSAT military unit joined demonstrators in a key square in Antananarivo. They demanded the resignation of Rajoelina and several key government figures.
This same military unit played a crucial role in bringing Rajoelina to power as a transitional leader after a military-backed coup in 2009, and announced it had seized control of the nation’s armed forces.
Rajoelina's office stated on Sunday that "an attempt to seize power illegally and by force" was occurring in Madagascar, a nation of 31 million off Africa's east coast. Rajoelina's current location is unknown, and his spokesperson has not responded to calls and messages.
While Rajoelina hasn't specified who initiated the coup, the CAPSAT unit seems to hold authority. On Sunday, they appointed a general as the new head of Madagascar's armed forces, a move accepted by the defense minister.
Col. Michael Randrianirina, CAPSAT's commander, stated that his soldiers clashed with security forces attempting to suppress weekend demonstrations, resulting in the death of one soldier. Despite this, major street fighting was absent, and soldiers, displaying Madagascar flags from armored vehicles, were celebrated by Antananarivo's residents.
Randrianirina emphasized that the military was "responding to the people's calls" but denied staging a coup. Speaking from the military headquarters, he suggested that the future is in the hands of the Madagascan people, including whether Rajoelina leaves office and a new election is organized.
The U.S. Embassy in Madagascar has advised American citizens to stay put due to the "highly volatile and unpredictable" situation. Meanwhile, the African Union is urging calm and restraint from all parties, civilian and military alike. Madagascar is experiencing its most severe unrest in recent years, triggered by water and electricity shortages since September 25. The protests, initially led by "Gen Z Madagascar," have claimed at least 22 lives according to the United Nations, a figure disputed by the government.
The discontent has spread, reflecting broader dissatisfaction with government's handling, with protesters citing poverty, high living costs, education access, and corruption as significant issues. Civic groups and trade unions have since joined the protests, leading to enacted nighttime curfews in Antananarivo and other cities, including Antsiranana.
The Gen Z protesters, gaining momentum via the internet, draw inspiration from protests that overthrew regimes in Nepal and Sri Lanka. Madagascar's political landscape is familiar with coups and crises since gaining independence from France in 1960.
In the past, Rajoelina, now 51, emerged as a transitional government leader post-2009 coup, which ousted then-President Marc Ravalomanana. Rajoelina was elected president in 2018 and reelected in 2023, but the opposition boycotted this vote. (AP) SKS SKS
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