Madagascar is on edge after President Andry Rajoelina announced on Sunday that an “attempt to seize power illegally and by force” was underway, marking the most serious political crisis in the island nation in over a decade. The announcement followed dramatic scenes in the capital, Antananarivo, where soldiers joined thousands of protesters demanding the president’s resignation.
“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,” the statement read.
The unrest, initially fueled by widespread anger over persistent power and water shortages, has evolved into a nationwide youth-led movement accusing Rajoelina of corruption and authoritarian leadership. On Saturday, thousands flooded May 13 Square a symbolic site of past uprisings in one of the largest gatherings since protests began on September 25.
In a stunning twist, members of the elite CAPSAT military unit, once instrumental in Rajoelina’s own 2009 rise to power, defied orders and joined the demonstrators. “Let us join forces and refuse to be paid to shoot our friends, our brothers, and our sisters,” soldiers declared in a viral social media video.
The military defection has escalated tensions, with reports of protesters cheering as soldiers escorted them into the square. Meanwhile, newly appointed Armed Forces Minister General Deramasinjaka Manantsoa Rakotoarivelo urged restraint, calling on troops to remain calm and prioritize dialogue.
The United Nations condemned the use of excessive force after at least 22 people were killed and more than 100 injured during the protests. Viral videos showing police brutality have further inflamed public outrage.
As Madagascar faces mounting instability, many fear the situation could spiral into another full-blown coup a stark reminder of the nation’s turbulent political history.
