Madagascar in Turmoil: President Andry Rajoelina Flees Amid Military Rebellion – NPR

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar – In a late-night address shared on social media from an undisclosed location, Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina revealed that he had fled the country amid fears for his safety following a military uprising. However, he stopped short of formally resigning.

For several weeks, the island nation has been rocked by protests led predominantly by the younger generation, dubbed Gen Z. The situation escalated dramatically on Saturday when an elite military faction, known as CAPSAT, sided with the demonstrators and demanded the resignation of Rajoelina and his cabinet. In response, the president condemned the move as an unlawful power grab and departed Madagascar.

“I was compelled to seek refuge to safeguard my life,” Rajoelina stated during his address. The speech was intended for national television but was delayed for hours after soldiers attempted to seize control of the state broadcasting facilities, according to the presidential office.

Ultimately, the message was streamed on the official Facebook page of the presidency but did not air on Malagasy television.

This marked Rajoelina’s first public statement since the CAPSAT unit turned against his administration in what many observers view as a coup attempt. The military faction joined thousands of protesters in Antananarivo’s central square over the weekend, intensifying the political crisis.

Calling for peaceful negotiations, Rajoelina urged all parties to uphold the constitution and seek a resolution. He did not disclose the means of his departure or his current whereabouts, though reports suggest he was evacuated aboard a French military aircraft-a claim the French Foreign Ministry declined to confirm.

Madagascar, a former French colony, has long grappled with tensions surrounding Rajoelina’s dual Malagasy-French citizenship, which has fueled public dissatisfaction.

The unrest initially ignited on September 25 due to persistent shortages of water and electricity but has since evolved into a broader movement challenging Rajoelina’s governance.

This upheaval represents the most significant turmoil in Madagascar, home to 31 million people, since Rajoelina first assumed power in 2009 following a military-backed coup that installed him as head of a transitional government.

Military Faction Asserts Control Over Armed Forces

Soldiers receive applause from attendees at a ceremony honoring demonstrators killed in recent anti-government protests in Antananarivo, Madagascar, Sunday, October 12, 2025.
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While Rajoelina has not publicly named the orchestrators behind the attempted coup, the CAPSAT unit has declared itself the new authority over Madagascar’s military forces. They have appointed a new military commander, a move reportedly endorsed by the defense minister in the president’s absence.

CAPSAT’s influence extends beyond its ranks, enjoying support from other military branches, including the gendarmerie.

Colonel Michael Randrianirina, a CAPSAT leader, told reporters at the military headquarters that their actions were a response to the people’s demands. He denied that their takeover constituted a coup, emphasizing that the future leadership should be decided by the Malagasy population, potentially through new elections if Rajoelina steps down.

Randrianirina also revealed that CAPSAT forces engaged in clashes with security units attempting to suppress the protests, resulting in the death of one soldier. Despite this, the capital’s streets saw no widespread violence, and troops parading with armored vehicles and waving national flags were warmly received by citizens.

The U.S. Embassy in Madagascar has urged American nationals to remain indoors due to the unpredictable and volatile environment. Meanwhile, the African Union has called on all factions-civilian and military alike-to maintain calm and exercise restraint.

Prolonged Demonstrations Shake Madagascar

For over three weeks, Madagascar has witnessed intense anti-government protests, initially spearheaded by a youth movement known as “Gen Z Madagascar.”

The United Nations reports that these demonstrations have resulted in at least 22 fatalities and numerous injuries, condemning the authorities’ harsh crackdown on what began as largely peaceful gatherings. The government disputes the official death toll.

Protesters have voiced grievances ranging from widespread poverty and soaring living costs to limited access to higher education. Allegations of corruption and misappropriation of public funds involving government officials and their associates have also fueled the unrest.

Civic organizations and labor unions have joined the movement, prompting authorities to impose nighttime curfews in Antananarivo and other major cities. These restrictions remain in place in the capital and the northern port city of Antsiranana.

The Gen Z activists who ignited the protests have harnessed social media platforms to organize, drawing inspiration from recent uprisings that led to regime changes in countries like Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Madagascar’s Troubled Political Legacy

Since gaining independence from France in 1960, Madagascar has endured multiple political upheavals, including coups that have ousted several leaders.

Andry Rajoelina, now 51, first rose to prominence as the head of a transitional government following the 2009 military coup that forced President Marc Ravalomanana into exile. Rajoelina secured the presidency in 2018 and was re-elected in 2023 in elections boycotted by opposition parties.

In the early hours of Sunday, Madagascar’s former prime minister and one of Rajoelina’s closest confidants fled to Mauritius aboard a private aircraft. The Mauritian government expressed dissatisfaction with the unsanctioned landing of the plane on its soil.