Madagascar’s presidency announced on Sunday that there was “an attempted illegal and forcible seizure of power. ” This came after some soldiers from the elite CAPSAT unit joined ongoing protests that began last month.
These troops encouraged fellow soldiers to support youth-led demonstrations calling for President Andry Rajoelina’s resignation, sparked by shortages of water and electricity.
The protests, which represent the biggest challenge to Rajoelina since his reelection in 2023, have resulted in at least 22 deaths and around 100 injuries, though the government disputes these figures.
Rajoelina condemned the actions aimed at destabilizing the country, calling for unity in defense of constitutional order and urging for dialogue to resolve the issues.
On Saturday, videos showed CAPSAT soldiers leaving their barracks to join the protests, while the prime minister and army chiefs appealed for calm and participation in discussions.
Clashes and shots were reported, leading to injuries, but there was no indication of ongoing violence in the area.
With information from Reuters
