Madagascar Gripped by Escalating Crisis: Army Unit Claims Military Control Amid Protests Demanding President’s Resignation
Antananarivo, Madagascar – The political landscape in Madagascar teetered on the edge of chaos on Sunday as the presidency accused forces of launching an illegal bid to overthrow the government, while a key army unit declared itself in command of the nation's armed forces. Protests that began over utility shortages have ballooned into a nationwide uprising against President Andry Rajoelina's administration, fueled by deep-seated frustrations over economic hardship, corruption, and governance failures.
The turmoil intensified when the Special Action Group for the Rapid Intervention of the Armed Forces (CAPSAT), an elite military unit, announced it had assumed leadership of the entire military apparatus, encompassing land, air, and naval branches. In a public statement posted on its Facebook page, CAPSAT named General Demosthene Pikulas as the new chief of staff, a move swiftly endorsed by Armed Forces Minister Manantsoa Deramasinjaka Rakotoarivelo during an installation ceremony. The minister expressed full support for the appointment, signaling a potential fracture within the security establishment.
This dramatic shift echoes CAPSAT's pivotal involvement in the 2009 political crisis that propelled Rajoelina to power, toppling then-President Marc Ravalomanana amid widespread street demonstrations. At the time, the unit's defection from government ranks proved decisive in altering the course of events. Now, history appears to be repeating itself as some CAPSAT troops abandoned their barracks on Saturday to rally alongside demonstrators in the capital, Antananarivo, openly condemning the use of force against civilians by other security units.
President Rajoelina, whose current location remains undisclosed amid the unrest, issued a vehement denunciation of the unfolding events. He described the situation as a blatant assault on the constitution and democratic norms, urging all national institutions to rally in defense of the constitutional order and sovereignty. In a prior address on Saturday, the presidency had projected an image of stability, affirming that Rajoelina and his recently appointed prime minister, an army general, retained firm control over the country.
The spark for the current wave of dissent ignited on September 25, when youth-led demonstrations erupted in response to chronic shortages of water and electricity. What started as targeted grievances quickly morphed into a broader indictment of Rajoelina's rule, with protesters decrying rampant unemployment, entrenched corruption, and a crippling cost-of-living crisis that has left millions struggling to survive. The movement, dubbed Gen Z Mada, has leveraged social media platforms to mobilize support, marking the most formidable challenge to Rajoelina since his contested re-election in 2023.
For two days running, thousands of demonstrators have converged on Antananarivo's iconic May 13 Square, a historic site of past revolutions and a symbol of democratic aspiration. Previously barricaded against access, the square fell to the crowds on Sunday, prompting jubilant celebrations. One participant captured the mood, declaring the occupation a triumphant reclamation of the "Square of Democracy" and vowing that the push for Rajoelina's ouster would continue unabated until victory.
Visuals from the scene depict a vibrant yet tense atmosphere: crowds waving banners adorned with a distinctive emblem, a skull topped by a straw hat inspired by the Japanese manga series One Piece, a motif adopted by youth activists in global hotspots like Indonesia and Peru. Selfies and cheers filled the air as protesters marked their breakthrough, but the jubilation was tempered by reports of violence. A shoot-out erupted at a CAPSAT camp on Sunday, following a similar clash the previous day that claimed the life of one soldier, allegedly gunned down by gendarmes.
The human toll of the crackdown has drawn sharp international scrutiny. United Nations human rights chief Volker Türk called for an immediate halt to what he termed unnecessary and disproportionate violence by security forces, citing at least 22 fatalities and over 100 injuries in the clashes. Rajoelina countered these claims, insisting that only 12 deaths had been verified, all involving individuals he characterized as looters and vandals.
Madagascar's woes extend far beyond the streets of its capital. Despite abundant natural resources, including vast mineral deposits and unique biodiversity, the island nation ranks among the world's poorest, with the World Bank estimating that 75 percent of its 30 million residents live below the poverty line. Access to electricity reaches just one-third of the population, per International Monetary Fund data, exacerbating daily hardships and breeding resentment toward a government perceived as out of touch.
The African Union voiced profound alarm over the deteriorating situation, appealing to all parties to pursue dialogue as the sole path to resolution. In a practical ripple effect, Air France announced the suspension of flights to Antananarivo through at least Tuesday, citing heightened security risks.
Since gaining independence from France in 1960, Madagascar has endured a cycle of instability, punctuated by major uprisings that have repeatedly reshaped its leadership. Rajoelina's trajectory, from a four-year stint as president post-2009 to his 2018 electoral comeback, underscores the fragility of power in this resource-rich yet impoverished nation. As night falls on Antananarivo, the fate of Rajoelina's government hangs in the balance, with the echoes of May 13 Square reverberating as a clarion call for change.