Madagascar PM urges unity as soldiers join protesters
Madagascar’s prime minister appealed for calm and unity hours after some soldiers joined young protesters and escorted them into Antananarivo’s May 13 Square for the first time since the demonstrations began last month.
Protests inspired by Gen Z-led movements in Kenya and Nepal began on Sept. 25 over water and power outages but have since escalated, posing the most serious challenge to President Andry Rajoelina’s rule since his re-election in 2023.
Earlier on Saturday, some troops from the elite CAPSAT unit that helped Rajoelina seize power in the 2009 coup called on their fellow soldiers to disobey orders and support youth-led protests.
Speaking to state broadcaster TVM late on Saturday, Prime Minister Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo said the government was “fully ready to listen and dialogue with all groups, such as young people, unions and the military.”
Rajoelina appointed Zafisambo and a new minister of defense and security after disbanding the previous government last week in response to the protests.
However, these moves were not enough to calm the public’s anger.
Videos circulating on social media on Saturday showed CAPSAT soldiers calling on other troops to “support the people”.
A video published in local media showed dozens of soldiers leaving the barracks to escort thousands of protesters to May 13 Square, which has been the scene of many political uprisings, is under heavy security and is off-limits during the unrest.
The army’s chief of staff, General Jocelyn Rakotoson, later issued a statement published in local media, urging citizens to “assist security forces in restoring order through dialogue.”
Demonstrators are demanding Rajoelina’s resignation, an apology to the country and the dissolution of the Senate and the electoral commission.
The Presidency issued a statement late Saturday in response to what it called “the spread of misinformation on social media” following widespread speculation that Rajoelina, who also holds French citizenship, had fled the country.
“On this occasion, it is announced to everyone that the President is in the country and supervises the management of national affairs together with the prime minister and the head of the government,” the statement said.
According to the United Nations, at least 22 people died and 100 people were injured in the incidents.
The government disputed those figures and Rajoelina said 12 people had been killed in protests this week.
