Madagascar’s embattled President Andry Rajoelina is set to deliver a televised address to the nation on Monday evening amid mounting political turmoil and speculation over his whereabouts.
The presidency announced that Rajoelina will speak at 7pm local time (16:00 GMT), even as protests continue in the capital Antananarivo and reports circulate that he may have left the country.
The president faces growing pressure to resign following a dramatic weekend in which an elite military unit, CAPSAT, publicly sided with protesters from the Gen Z Madagascar movement—a youth-led campaign demanding political change.
Military Split and Coup Allegations
On Saturday, CAPSAT soldiers—a key security force in Madagascar’s history—declared support for the protesters, marking a turning point in the month-long unrest.
The following day, Rajoelina denounced what he called an attempted coup, after the unit replaced the army chief with its own commander, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, during a ceremony attended by the armed forces minister.
“We responded to the people’s call,” Randrianirina told reporters.
The move carries deep symbolism: CAPSAT played a decisive role in the 2009 coup that brought Rajoelina, then a young mayor of Antananarivo, to power.
Where Is the President?
Uncertainty over Rajoelina’s location has fueled widespread speculation. Opposition leader Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, who ran against him in the 2023 election, claimed the president “left the country”, citing confirmation from staff at the presidential office.
A military source echoed that claim to Reuters, saying Rajoelina fled over the weekend. The government has not commented on the reports.
Despite the confusion, crowds took to the streets again on Monday—this time in a festive mood. Marching bands joined students and soldiers waving flags, while some youths clung to military vehicles as they paraded through the city.
Roots of the Unrest
The protests began on September 25, initially sparked by anger over chronic electricity and water shortages. They have since expanded into broader calls for democratic reform and an end to perceived corruption and mismanagement.
The Gen Z Madagascar movement, inspired by similar youth-led uprisings in countries like Kenya, Indonesia, and Peru, has refused government offers for dialogue, saying it will continue demonstrations until Rajoelina steps down.
Deadly Clashes and Political Fallout
The United Nations reports that at least 22 people have been killed and more than 100 injured since demonstrations began, though the government disputes these figures. One CAPSAT soldier was killed in clashes with the gendarmerie on Saturday.
The unrest has exposed deep social frustrations in one of the world’s poorest nations, where only one-third of the population has access to electricity and power cuts often last more than eight hours a day.
On Sunday, large crowds gathered at May 13 Square—the traditional epicenter of Malagasy uprisings—where former President Marc Ravalomanana, ousted by Rajoelina in 2009, appeared alongside demonstrators and CAPSAT soldiers.
A Fragile Political History
Rajoelina, who first rose to power in 2009 after a military-backed coup, led a transitional government until 2014 before stepping aside to restore civilian rule. He later won presidential elections in 2019 and secured re-election in 2023.
But divisions within the ruling elite and the military have deepened amid growing economic hardship and public anger over governance failures.
The current crisis highlights Madagascar’s long history of military involvement in politics since independence from France in 1960.
As night falls, the nation awaits Rajoelina’s address—uncertain whether it will calm tensions or mark the beginning of another chapter in Madagascar’s cycle of political upheaval.
Leave a Reply