Following reports of his evacuation by a French military aircraft on Sunday, Andry Rajoelina made a public statement on Monday.
Published On 13 Oct 2025
Amid escalating nationwide unrest that erupted late last month, Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has reportedly left the country to ensure his safety.
In a live broadcast on Facebook this Monday, Rajoelina confirmed his relocation to a secure site, dispelling rumors about his evacuation on Sunday.
The 51-year-old leader has not revealed his exact location.
Originally scheduled to address the nation via television on Monday afternoon, his speech was postponed after his office reported that armed factions threatened to seize control of state-run media outlets.
French President Emmanuel Macron voiced his apprehension regarding the turmoil in Madagascar, a former French colony, where the United Nations has documented at least 22 fatalities resulting from clashes between demonstrators and security personnel.
Speaking at a summit in Egypt, Macron refrained from confirming whether France facilitated Rajoelina’s departure.
“I cannot verify any details at this moment,” Macron stated. “Our foremost concern is for the situation’s stability.”
According to a military insider who spoke to Reuters, Rajoelina was transported to Sainte Marie Airport by helicopter before boarding a French Army Casa aircraft on Sunday.
This exit followed a significant defection within the military on Saturday, which Rajoelina denounced as an unlawful and forceful attempt to president-appeals/” title=”Madagascar on the Brink: … Urgently Calls for Help Amid Imminent Coup Threat”>usurp power.
Shortly after his condemnation, the elite CAPSAT unit-instrumental in Rajoelina’s rise to power during the 2009 coup-declared it had assumed control over the armed forces. Prior to this, CAPSAT announced its refusal to obey orders to fire on protesters.
The protests, which began on September 25 initially over disruptions in water and electricity services, quickly expanded to encompass broader discontent regarding inflation, widespread poverty, and accusations of governmental corruption, with many demanding Rajoelina step down.
On Monday, hundreds of protesters, including some members of the military and security forces, assembled outside Antananarivo’s city hall, waving flags and voicing their demands.
Finaritra Manitra Andrianamelasoa, a 24-year-old participant, told AFP that he hopes the president “will sincerely apologize and formally announce his resignation.”
“Following that, we can focus on organizing elections to select a leader who truly represents the people,” Andrianamelasoa added.
These demonstrations in Madagascar mirror a global wave of youth-led movements, similar to recent protests in Nepal that culminated in the ousting of President KP Sharma Oli earlier this September.
