Over the weekend, members of the country’s army joined a protest that is calling for the resignation of the president of the country, Andry Rajoelina.
This has led the presidency to speculate on a potential coup, after a military unit referred to as CAPSAT instructed its troops to disregard any orders and support the protesters.
The CAPSAT unit had been responsible for aiding the current president in seizing power in a 2009 coup.
According to CAPSAT officials, who are based on the outskirts of Antananarivo, the country’s capital, they have command over all security activities and will coordinate all military branches.
As reported by Reuters, General Demosthene Pikulas, who had previously served as head of the military academy, was named army chief.
Another unit within the country’s paramilitary gendarmerie, which had, prior to Sunday, assisted the police in tackling the protests, had also followed in CAPSAT’s footsteps, deciding to disregard government instructions.
“All use of force and any improper behaviour towards our fellow citizens are prohibited, as the gendarmerie is a force meant to protect people and not to defend the interests of a few individuals,” the Intervention Forces of the National Gendarmerie said in a statement broadcast on Real TV.
The protests against the government’s leadership have now resumed in full force, with their intensity continuing to escalate.
Protests in Madagascar
Madagascar has been ravaged by weeks of protests that began over water and electricity shortages but have since escalated into a severe political crisis.
The unrest began on September 25, 2025, in Antananarivo, the capital, when inhabitants, especially young people, came to the streets to protest chronic power outages and deplorable living conditions.
As dissatisfaction with poverty, corruption, and unemployment grew, the demonstrations, dubbed the Gen Z movement, swiftly spread to neighboring cities.
To ease tensions, President Andry Rajoelina dismissed his administration on September 29 and named General Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo as prime minister on October 6.
However, demonstrators rejected the decision, claiming that it did not address their concerns.
Since the protests began, reports indicate that at least 22 people have been killed, and over 100 have been injured. A curfew has been imposed in numerous towns, and some international flights, including Air France, have been suspended owing to security concerns.
Protesters continue to call for the president’s resignation and improved government services.
Meanwhile, the African Union and the United Nations have urged calm and negotiation, but the crisis has not been resolved.
