By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Officials have reported that Madagascar’s President, Andry Rajoelina has fled the country hours before a scheduled address following weeks of youth-led protests.
Rajoelina who reportedly left the country on a French military aircraft had failed to secure the support of the military to quell the demonstrations, for which he has raised alarm of an attempt to oust him.
French state-owned radio, RFI reported on Monday that Rajoelina who also has French citizenship, had been flown out of the capital, Antananarivo, after a deal with President Emmanuel Macron.
RFI also reported that the President may have headed for Dubai.
A presidency statement published on Facebook indicates that Rajoelina was due to address the nation at 7pm (1600 GMT) on Monday.
Rajoelina, 51, became President first from 2009 to 2014 before returning to power in 2023.
He raised concerns after losing the support of a key army unit that joined thousands of young protesters known as “Gen Z Madagascar”. They are protesting against corruption and poverty, as well as shortage of water and electricity.
The movement rejected an invitation to meet with President Rajoelina for dialogue, instead they demanded his resignation.
People flooded a square in front of the Antananarivo city hall on Monday, waving flags and chanting slogans, some hanging off military vehicles as they arrived, according to Agence France-Presse reporters.
Among the demonstrators were soldiers from the elite Capsat unit, which played a major role in the 2009 coup during Rajoelina’s rise to the presidency after mass protests forced his predecessor Marc Ravalomanana out of power.
Also present were gendarmerie officers, accused of using heavy-handed tactics during the near-daily protests over more than two weeks. They admitted in a video statement to “faults and excesses” in their response.
At least 22 people were killed in the first days by security forces and others in violence sparked by criminal gangs and looters, according to the UN. Rajoelina had however disputed the toll, saying last week there were “12 confirmed deaths and all of these individuals were looters and vandals”.
On Saturday, some Capsat soldiers had posted a video to social media saying: “Let us join forces, military, gendarmes and police, and refuse to be paid to shoot our friends, our brothers and our sisters.”
“Close the gates, and await our instructions,” they added. “Do not obey orders from your superiors. Point your weapons at those who order you to fire on your comrades in arms because they will not take care of our families if we die.”
