Antananarivo — Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has reportedly fled the country as youth-led protests intensified and sections of the military defected to join demonstrators demanding his resignation.
The president, who was expected to address the nation on Monday evening, abruptly postponed his speech for the second time in a week. The presidency cited security concerns after reports that soldiers threatened to seize control of state television. Rajoelina has not been seen in public since last Wednesday, fueling speculation about his whereabouts.
According to opposition leader Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, Rajoelina left the country on Sunday following the defection of key army units. “We called the staff of the presidency, and they confirmed that he left the country,” Randrianasoloniaiko told Reuters, adding that the president departed on a French military aircraft. French media also reported that Rajoelina had reached an understanding with President Emmanuel Macron, though neither government has confirmed this.
The crisis deepened as Rajoelina’s former prime minister, Christian Ntsay, and businessman Maminiaina Ravatomanga, a close ally of the president, flew to Mauritius “urgently” on Sunday, according to Mauritian authorities.
Before his reported departure, Rajoelina warned that an “attempt to seize power illegally” was underway, as the elite military unit CAPSAT announced it had assumed control of the armed forces — including the army, navy, and air force.
In a remarkable turn of events, soldiers were seen marching alongside jubilant protesters in the capital, Antananarivo, on Sunday. Witnesses described a surreal atmosphere as uniformed troops mingled with young demonstrators who cheered their arrival.
The movement, dubbed “Gen Z Madagascar”, began as protests against water and electricity shortages but has since grown into a mass uprising against alleged government corruption, nepotism, and soaring living costs.
The United Nations has reported at least 22 deaths since the demonstrations began, though the government disputes the figure. Civic groups, unions, and opposition parties have rallied behind the youth-led movement, which has now evolved into the largest political crisis Madagascar has faced in over a decade.
As the nation braces for uncertainty, the once-stable Indian Ocean island now faces its gravest political test since Rajoelina first rose to power in a 2009 coup.
