In Summary
- Saturday soldiers defied orders and joined thousands of demonstrators in the Capital Antananarivo as Kenya Gen Zs inspired protests spread across the globe
- Other than Kenya in 2024, Gen Z protests in Nepal caused change of government and have now spread to the Indian Ocean island of 30 million Malagasy people
Antananarivo (Prime Africa News) – Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has claimed that an “attempt to seize power illegally and by force” is underway, following a dramatic escalation of anti-government unrest that saw soldiers join mass protests in the capital, Antananarivo.
“The Presidency of the Republic wishes to inform the nation and the international community that an attempt to seize power illegally and by force, contrary to the Constitution and to democratic principles, is currently underway on the national territory,” Rajoelina said in a statement on Sunday.
His remarks came a day after members of the military joined thousands of demonstrators demanding his resignation, chanting slogans accusing him of corruption, authoritarian rule, and economic mismanagement.
According to Al Jazeera, Saturday’s demonstrations marked the largest in weeks of youth-led protests, which began on September 25 over water and power shortages but have since evolved into a broader anti-government movement.
In a striking turn, soldiers from the elite CAPSAT unit — a force that played a crucial role in Rajoelina’s own rise to power during the 2009 political crisis — defied orders and joined the protesters.
Videos circulating on social media showed soldiers escorting demonstrators into May 13 Square, a symbolic site for past political uprisings that had been heavily guarded throughout the recent unrest.
At a meeting earlier in the day at a military base in the Soanierana district, CAPSAT officers called on fellow security personnel to refuse orders to fire on protesters.
“Let us join forces — military, gendarmes, and police — and refuse to be paid to shoot our friends, our brothers, and our sisters,” the soldiers said in a video message.
“Close the gates, and await our instructions. Do not obey orders from your superiors. Point your weapons at those who order you to fire on your comrades.”
They also urged soldiers at the airport to block any attempts by government officials to flee by air.
In response, the newly appointed Minister of the Armed Forces, General Deramasinjaka Manantsoa Rakotoarivelo, urged soldiers to remain calm and avoid confrontation.
“We call on our brothers who disagree with us to prioritise dialogue,” Rakotoarivelo said at a press conference. “The Malagasy army remains a mediator and constitutes the nation’s last line of defence.”
The United Nations on Friday condemned the heavy-handed tactics used by security forces, urging authorities to uphold the right to peaceful assembly.
“We call on authorities to desist from unnecessary force and to uphold the rights to free association and peaceful assembly,” the UN said in a statement.
At least 22 people have been killed and more than 100 injured since the protests began, according to UN figures.
Graphic videos circulating online have shown instances of police brutality, including one man being severely beaten and left unconscious — an incident verified by AFP reporters.
The growing defiance within the ranks of the security forces marks a dangerous escalation for President Rajoelina, who came to power amid a military-backed uprising in 2009 and has since maintained a tight grip on authority.
As unrest spreads and calls for his resignation grow louder, international observers fear Madagascar could be sliding into another cycle of political instability — echoing past upheavals that have plagued the Indian Ocean island nation for decades.
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