The office of Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has said an attempt to seize power illegally and by force is underway in the country.
Hours later, an army unit known as CAPSAT claimed that it had taken over the leadership of the military command, and was now in control of all the armed forces – land, air, and naval.
This is the same unit that played a crucial role in the 2009 Malagasy political crisis, which helped Rajoelina rise to power.
Madagascar was first hit by youth-led protests on September 25 against water and power cuts, but they have escalated to reflect wider dissatisfaction with Rajoelina’s government over high unemployment, corruption, and the cost-of-living crisis.
Rajoelina’s whereabouts are unclear, but in a statement, he said, “there is an attempt to seize power at this time in the territory of the Republic, in complete violation of the Constitution and democratic principles,” in a translation.
He condemned “in the strongest possible terms” what he called an attempt to destabilise the country.
He also called on all of the nation’s key forces to unite in defending the constitutional order and national sovereignty.
Rajoelina is due to address the nation at 19:00 local time (16:00 GMT), but it is unclear what he will say.
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CAPSAT said it had appointed a new army chief of staff, Gen Demosthene Pikulas, according to a statement issued on its Facebook page.
AFP news agency reports armed forces minister Manantsoa Deramasinjaka Rakotoarivelo has accepted the appointment.
“I give him my blessing,” the minister was quoted as saying at a ceremony to install Gen Pikulas to the post.
On Monday morning, the disruption caused by the protests seemed to have eased in the capital, Antananarivo.
Almost all shops in the city centre have opened. Likewise, markets and street vendors have resumed business.
Protesters gathered at the city’s main square on Saturday and Sunday.
This is a significant development, as they had failed to reach May 13 Square, the focal point of previous uprisings, until now.
A protester told the BBC that they had “finally conquered May 13 Square – the Square of Democracy”.
“We’re happy and relieved. It’s a great victory. We won’t stop the struggle until President Rajoelina resigns,” the protester added.
