An elite military unit says it has seized power in Madagascar from President Andry Rajoelina following weeks of youth-led protests in the Indian Ocean island.
Standing outside the Presidential Palace, CAPSAT chief Col Michael Randrianirina said the military would form a government and hold elections within two years. He also suspended key democratic institutions, like the electoral commission.
Gen Z protestors will be part of the changes because “the movement was created in the streets so we have to respect their demands” he added.
Troops and protesters have been celebrating the apparent ousting of President Rajoelina, with thousands cheering and waving flags in the capital, Antananarivo.
Madagascar’s constitutional court has named Col Randrianirina as the country’s new leader, even though a statement from the president’s office said he was still in charge and denounced what it described as an “attempted coup d’etat”.
Rajoelina’s whereabouts are unknown, but he has said he is sheltering in a “safe place” following an alleged attempt on his life by “military personnel and politicians”, which CAPSAT has denied having any involvement in. There have been unconfirmed reports that the president was flown out of the country on a French military aircraft.
Col Randrianirina told the BBC that Madagascar was “a country where chaos reigns right now”.
“Chaos because there’s no president – he’s gone abroad.”
The unrest began just over two weeks ago, after a youth-led movement began.
The demonstrations soon escalated, to reflect wider dissatisfaction with Rajoelina’s government over high unemployment, rampant corruption and the cost-of-living crisis.
Protestors clashed with security forces resulting in the death of at least 22 people and more than 100 others injured, according to the UN, although the Malagasy government has dismissed those figures and described them as based on “rumours and misinformation”.
CAPSAT, which supported Rajoelina when he came into power in 2009, joined the protestors on Saturday.
President Rajoelina, an entrepreneur and former DF, was once seen as a fresh start for Madagascar.
The baby-faced leader became president when he was just 34, earning the title of Africa’s youngest leader, and going on to govern for four years, before returning to power after the 2018 election.
