Madagascar‘s embattled president, protests-president-dialogue/” title=”… Erupts: Youth-Led … Demand Change as President Pledges Dialogue but Stands Firm”>Andry Rajoelina, has announced that he is currently taking refuge in a secure location following an alleged assassination attempt amid ongoing protests demanding his resignation.
During a live broadcast on Facebook late Monday, the 51-year-old leader accused certain “military personnel and politicians” of orchestrating plots against his life. “Since September 25, there have been multiple attempts on my life and efforts to stage a coup,” Rajoelina stated. “I was compelled to seek a safe haven to safeguard my life.”
Although he did not reveal his exact whereabouts, opposition leaders and diplomatic insiders claim that Rajoelina fled the country on Sunday aboard a French military aircraft-a report that the French government has neither confirmed nor denied.
The island nation is currently engulfed in its most severe political turmoil in over ten years, driven primarily by young protesters identifying as Gen Z Mada. These demonstrations, sparked by economic struggles and widespread dissatisfaction with corruption, intensified when segments of the military defected to support the protesters in the capital city, Antananarivo.
Over the weekend, CAPSAT, an influential military unit that played a key role in Rajoelina’s rise to power during the 2009 coup, declared itself the commander of all armed forces. Some officers from this unit were later seen marching alongside demonstrators.
Following a meeting of military leaders on Monday, CAPSAT’s newly appointed army chief, General Demosthene Pikulas, attempted to calm public fears by assuring that security forces were “collaborating to maintain order.”
However, by evening, soldiers loyal to CAPSAT had surrounded the state television headquarters, causing delays to Rajoelina’s planned address. The presidency later stated that the general had entered the building to “restore calm.”
A senior military source told Reuters that a French military Casa aircraft landed at Sainte Marie airport on Sunday, where a helicopter transferred an unidentified passenger onboard. “Five minutes later, the Casa took off. That passenger was Rajoelina,” the source revealed.
French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking from Egypt after a Gaza summit, declined to confirm these reports but emphasized the importance of preserving “constitutional order in Madagascar.” He acknowledged the frustrations of Malagasy youth but warned against military factions exploiting these grievances.
French radio station RFI reported that Rajoelina might have reached an agreement with Macron to facilitate his evacuation, though no official confirmation has been issued by either party.
Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, leader of Madagascar’s parliamentary opposition, told Reuters that the president had “departed the country” and that his current location remains unknown. “We contacted the presidency staff, and they confirmed his departure,” he said.
An opposition figure speaking to the BBC claimed that the military unit now “effectively controls the country.” On Monday, a faction of the gendarmerie also declared its support for the protesters, taking over its headquarters in a formal ceremony attended by senior officials.
This crisis has exposed a significant generational rift in Madagascar, where the median age is under 20. With a population of approximately 30 million-three-quarters of whom live in poverty-the island has endured decades of political instability and economic decline.
According to World Bank data, Madagascar’s GDP per capita has dropped by 45 percent since gaining independence from France in 1960. For many young Malagasy citizens, Rajoelina’s administration has come to represent broken promises and deteriorating living standards.
The United Nations reports that at least 22 people have lost their lives in clashes between protesters and security forces since late September.
Despite rumors of his departure, Rajoelina insisted during his broadcast that he would neither resign nor allow “Madagascar to be destroyed.” He stressed, “The only solution to these challenges is to uphold the constitution.”