Madagascar Crisis: President Rajoelina in ‘Safe Place’ After Coup Fears as Elite Army Unit Takes Control

ANTANANARIVO – Madagascar’s political crisis has escalated dramatically, with embattled President Andry Rajoelina, 51, declaring he is sheltering in a “safe place” after alleging a plot by “a group of military personnel and politicians planned to assassinate me.”

The President’s live address to the nation on Facebook on Monday night followed a week of high-stakes chaos, delayed several times as soldiers reportedly threatened to seize the state TV headquarters in the capital, Antananarivo. Rajoelina’s whereabouts remain unconfirmed, though earlier unverified reports suggested he had fled the country on a French military aircraft.

Rajoelina’s dramatic announcement comes as a powerful army unit, the CAPSAT (Army Personnel Administration Center), moved to effectively seize control of the armed forces and sided with a fortnight of intense, youth-led protests.

CAPSAT—the same elite unit that helped install Rajoelina in power during the 2009 uprising—declared itself in command of all armed forces over the weekend, with some of its officers joining demonstrators in the streets. Following a military meeting on Monday, the new CAPSAT-installed Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Demosthene Pikulas, assured the public the security forces were working to maintain order.

However, a senior opposition source from the TIM party told the BBC that the island nation is now effectively being run by the military unit. The TIM party is now planning to bring impeachment proceedings against Rajoelina for “abandonment of post.”

‘Gen Z Mada’ and Deep-Seated Poverty
The unrest began as a reaction to chronic water and power cuts, but quickly spiralled into broader demands for the president’s resignation over high unemployment, pervasive corruption, and a severe cost-of-living crisis.

The protests, mainly led by young demonstrators dubbed “Gen Z Mada,” proved immune to Rajoelina’s earlier concessions, which included sacking his entire government.

Despite being rich in natural resources, Madagascar remains one of the poorest countries globally, with the World Bank stating about 75% of the population lives below the poverty line.

The security crackdown on the demonstrations has been deadly, with the UN reporting at least 22 fatalities and over 100 injuries in the initial days, though the government disputes these figures. Eyewitnesses described security forces using live ammunition against protesters.

Several figures from Rajoelina’s inner circle, including former Prime Minister Richard Ravalomanana, have reportedly fled to nearby Mauritius.

The President, who first came to power in 2009 on the back of similar mass protests, insisted in his address: “There is only one way to resolve these issues; that is to respect the constitution in force in the country.”