Tag: Andry Rajoelina

Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has reportedly left the country as protests demanding his resignation escalate. Rajoelina was scheduled to address the nation at 17:30 GMT on Monday but postponed the speech after soldiers threatened to seize state television, the presidency said. This is the second time his address has been delayed, and he has not been seen in public since last Wednesday. Opposition leader Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko told Reuters that Rajoelina departed Madagascar on Sunday following defections from parts of the army that joined the protesters. “We called the staff of the presidency, and they confirmed that he left the country,” he said. A military source said Rajoelina flew out on a French military plane, with French radio RFI reporting he had reached an agreement with President Emmanuel Macron. Christian Ntsay, his former prime minister, and businessman Maminiaina Ravatomanga, a close ally, also flew to Mauritius on Sunday, confirmed the Mauritian government. Before leaving, Rajoelina warned of a plot to seize power illegally as soldiers joined youth-led demonstrations. Shortly after, CAPSAT, an elite army unit, announced it had taken control of the military command, overseeing all land, air, and naval forces. In Antananarivo, soldiers marched alongside protesters, openly supporting the demonstrations. This occurred just hours after the presidency’s warning about an attempted illegal power grab. No immediate violence was reported, but the military’s loyalty remains unclear, leaving Madagascar’s political future uncertain.