Madagascar govt toppled amid Gen Z protests as President Rajoelina flees country, claims coup attempt—what we know

Madagascar's Gen Z protests: After weeks of anti-government protests led by Gen Z, the situation reached a critical moment on Saturday when an elite military unit, known as CAPSAT, sided with the demonstrators and demanded the resignation of President Andry Rajoelina and other government officials. The Madagascar government was effectively toppled, and Andry Rajoelina fled the country, claiming he did so to protect his life amid what he described as a coup attempt.

Madagascar's Gen Z protests came a month after a separate Gen Z-led protest brought down the government in Nepal.

Madagascar's Gen Z protests: What did Rajoelina say in his late-night address?

In his late-night address on Monday, 13 October from an undisclosed location, President Andry Rajoelina said, “I was forced to find a safe place to protect my life.” The speech, intended for broadcast on Madagascar television, was delayed for hours after soldiers tried to seize control of the state broadcaster’s buildings, according to the President’s office and AP reports.

The speech was eventually aired on the presidency’s official Facebook page, but not on national television.

These were Rajoelina’s first public remarks since the CAPSAT military unit defected from his government in what seemed like a coup. The unit joined thousands of protesters gathered in a central square in the capital, Antananarivo, over the weekend. Rajoelina called for dialogue “to find a way out of this situation” and emphasised that the constitution must be respected.

He did not disclose how he left Madagascar or his current location, though a report suggested he was evacuated on a French military plane on Sunday.

When did Madagascar protests begin?

Madagascar, a former French colony, has seen lingering resentment over Rajoelina’s reported French citizenship, which has been a point of frustration for some citizens for years.

The anti-government demonstrations began on 25 September, initially sparked by ongoing water and electricity shortages, but have since expanded into broader dissatisfaction with Rajoelina and his administration.

This marks the most serious wave of unrest in the island nation of 31 million, located off Africa’s east coast, since Rajoelina first assumed power in 2009 as head of a transitional government following a military-backed coup. The same elite CAPSAT military unit, now rebelling against him, played a key role in bringing him to power in 2009.

While Rajoelina has not named those behind the apparent coup attempt, the CAPSAT unit has declared that it now commands the country’s armed forces and has appointed a new military leader, a move accepted by the defence minister in Rajoelina’s absence.

CAPSAT appears to hold a dominant position and is reportedly supported by other military factions, including the gendarmerie security forces. Col Michael Randrianirina, a CAPSAT commander, said the army had “responded to the people’s calls” but rejected the idea that this was a coup. While speaking to journalists at the military headquarters on Sunday, he said the future, including whether Rajoelina steps down and new elections are held, should be decided by the Madagascan people.

How many casualties have occurred in Madagascar Gen Z protests?

Meanwhile, according to the United Nations, the protests have resulted in at least 22 deaths and dozens of injuries. The UN also condemned the Madagascan authorities for what it described as a “violent response” to protests that were mostly peaceful in their initial stages. However, the government has challenged the number of deaths.

(With inputs from AP)