Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has warned that an “attempt to seize power illegally and by force” is underway, following reports that a group of soldiers joined anti-government protests in the capital, Antananarivo.
The warning came on Sunday, a day after soldiers stationed on the outskirts of the city called on security forces to “join forces” and “refuse orders to shoot” at protesters, denouncing the violent crackdown on ongoing demonstrations.
The protests, led mostly by young people, have continued for over two weeks, sparked by frustration over power and water shortages across the country.
On Saturday, soldiers clashed with gendarmes outside their barracks before riding into Antananarivo on army vehicles to join thousands of demonstrators gathered at the symbolic Place du 13 Mai in front of the city hall. The crowd reportedly cheered their arrival and chanted calls for President Rajoelina to resign.
In a statement released Sunday morning, the presidency said: “An attempt to seize power illegally and by force, contrary to the Constitution and to democratic principles, is currently underway.”
Rajoelina urged calm and dialogue, saying, “Dialogue is the only way forward and the only solution to the crisis currently facing the country. We must choose unity.”
Meanwhile, the gendarmerie, which has been accused of using excessive force during the protests, released a video on Sunday admitting to “faults and excesses” and calling for reconciliation between the army and gendarmes.
“We are here to protect, not to terrorise,” the officers said, adding that “from now on, all orders will come solely” from the gendarmerie headquarters.
Saturday’s protest was one of the largest since demonstrations began on September 25. The unrest has intensified in recent days, drawing more segments of the military into the movement.
Government officials later confirmed that President Rajoelina “remains in the country” and is “managing national affairs.” The newly appointed prime minister said the government is “standing strong” and “ready to collaborate and listen.”
The mutinous soldiers are reportedly from the CAPSAT unit—administrative and technical officers based in Soanierana, on the outskirts of Antananarivo. Notably, the same base played a pivotal role in the 2009 uprising that brought Rajoelina to power.
It remains unclear how many soldiers have joined the current rebellion.
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