Madagascar President Flees As Soldiers Join Anti-Government Protests

Madagascar has plunged deeper into governmental turmoil arsenic President Andry Rajoelina has reportedly fled the state amid widening anti-government protests and subject defections.

Rajoelina, who was scheduled to code the federation astatine 17:30 GMT connected Monday, abruptly postponed his code for the 2nd clip successful a week. The presidency cited threats by soldiers to prehend power of authorities tv arsenic the crushed for the delay.

According to Reuters, absorption person and caput of parliament’s number bloc, Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, claimed that the president departed Madagascar connected Sunday aft respective service units defected and joined protesters.

“We called the unit of the presidency, and they confirmed that helium near the country,” Randrianasoloniaiko told Reuters.

Citing a subject source, Reuters reported that Rajoelina near aboard a French subject aircraft, portion French broadcaster RFI said helium had reached an statement with French President Emmanuel Macron.

In a related development, erstwhile Prime Minister Christian Ntsay and businessman Maminiaina Ravatomanga, a adjacent state of Rajoelina, besides fled to Mauritius connected Sunday, according to confirmation from the Mauritian government.

Before his reported departure, Rajoelina warned that a crippled was underway to “illegally prehend power”, arsenic soldiers began openly aligning with protesters demanding his resignation.

Shortly aft his statement, CAPSAT, an elite service unit, announced that it had taken power of the subject command, claiming authorization implicit each land, air, and naval forces.

Scenes of jubilation and hostility unfolded crossed the capital, Antananarivo, connected Sunday, arsenic crowds of demonstrators cheered soldiers who joined their ranks. Military leaders were seen lasting broadside by broadside with protesters, signaling a imaginable displacement successful loyalty distant from the embattled president.

The time passed without contiguous violence, but the ambiance remained tense, with the president’s whereabouts chartless and questions mounting implicit who present controls the government.

What began 3 weeks agone arsenic youth-led protests implicit chronic energy blackouts and h2o shortages has since evolved into a wide question dubbed “Gen Z Madagascar” railing against alleged corruption, nepotism, and economical hardship.

According to the United Nations, astatine slightest 22 radical person been killed since the protests began, though the authorities disputes the figure. Civil nine groups and labour unions person since joined the demonstrations, amplifying calls for accountability and enactment change.

Observers said the latest developments people Madagascar’s astir superior governmental situation successful years, recalling memories of Rajoelina’s ain emergence to powerfulness successful a 2009 coup.

As of Tuesday, determination has been nary authoritative confirmation from the presidency regarding the president’s whereabouts oregon the claims of a military takeover.