Amid escalating unrest, Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has reportedly fled the country following days of intense protests and military defections. The president, who was scheduled to address the nation on Monday at 17:30 GMT, postponed his speech citing threats from soldiers aiming to seize control of state television.
This marks the second occasion that Rajoelina has delayed his public address. According to Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, the leader of the opposition in Madagascar’s parliament, Rajoelina left the country on Sunday after a significant portion of the military joined the anti-government protests. “We called the staff of the presidency, and they confirmed that he left the country,” Randrianasoloniaiko told Reuters.
Sources close to the matter indicated that Rajoelina boarded a French military aircraft, and reports from French radio (RFI) suggest that a deal was struck with French President Emmanuel Macron for his departure.
The political crisis deepened over the weekend as Rajoelina’s former Prime Minister, Christian Ntsay, and businessman Maminiaina Ravatomanga—both close allies of the president—fled to Mauritius, with the Mauritian government confirming their “urgent” departure on Sunday.
Before fleeing, President Rajoelina warned the nation about an ongoing plot to illegally seize power. This came just hours before a dramatic announcement from CAPSAT, an elite army unit, which declared that it had assumed control of Madagascar’s military forces, including the army, air force, and navy.
The situation has sparked widespread concern both locally and internationally. The chaotic scenes unfolded on Sunday in Antananarivo, the country’s capital, where soldiers were seen joining youth-led protesters in a powerful display of defiance against Rajoelina’s government. This unprecedented alliance between the military and demonstrators escalated the crisis and raised fears of an impending coup.
Rajoelina’s claim of an attempted power grab by force was made shortly before CAPSAT’s takeover. Despite the heavy military presence in the streets, the day passed without immediate violence, though the tension remained palpable.
The protests, which initially began as a response to electricity and water shortages, have now spiralled into a larger movement calling for political change. Youth leaders have rallied against corruption, nepotism, and the soaring cost of living, with some reports indicating that at least 22 people have died in the unrest. However, the government has disputed these figures, and civil society groups have joined the protests in growing numbers.
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