"The Presidency of the Republic wishes to inform the nation and the international community that an attempt to seize power illegally and by force, contrary to the Constitution and to democratic principles, is currently underway," Rajoelina said in a statement released on Sunday morning.
The warning followed dramatic scenes on Saturday when soldiers from the elite CAPSAT unit abandoned their barracks on the outskirts of the capital to join demonstrators at the historic Place du 13 Mai. This is the same unit that played a key role in the 2009 uprising that first brought Rajoelina to power.
The troops were widely reported to have been greeted by cheering crowds as they marched into the city centre, calling on security forces to 'refuse orders to shoot' and condemning what they described as excessive police force used against protesters.
The protests, led largely by young people identifying with a 'Gen Z' movement, began on September 25 in response to chronic power outages and water shortages but have since morphed into a broader call for political reform.
Demonstrators are demanding Rajoelina's resignation, an apology for violence against protesters, and the dissolution of both the Senate and the electoral commission.
According to the United Nations, at least 22 people have been killed and more than 100 injured since the demonstrations began. The government disputes those figures, with President Rajoelina insisting that only 12 people, whom he described as 'looters and vandals', have died.
Prime Minister Ruphin Zafisambo, appointed just weeks ago, urged calm and dialogue in an address on Saturday evening, saying the government 'remains firm but ready to collaborate and listen to all forces â€" the youth, unions, and the army.' He warned that 'Madagascar will not withstand another crisis if this division among citizens continues.'
The presidency also issued assurances that President Rajoelina 'remains in the country' and is 'managing national affairs.'
Madagascar has a long history of political instability and military interventions since gaining independence from France in 1960. Rajoelina himself rose to prominence during mass protests that ousted then-president Marc Ravalomanana in 2009, with the backing of the same CAPSAT unit now rebelling against him. He went on to win presidential elections in 2018 and 2023, both marred by opposition boycotts.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
