An elite military unit says it has seized power in Madagascar from President Andry Rajoelina following weeks of youth-led protests in the Indian Ocean island.
Standing outside the presidential palace on Tuesday, CAPSAT chief Col Michael Randrianirina said the military would form a government and hold elections within two years. He also suspended key democratic institutions, like the electoral commission.
Gen Z protesters will be part of the changes because “the movement was created in the streets so we have to respect their demands”, he added.
Troops and protesters have been celebrating the apparent ousting of President Rajoelina, with thousands waving flags in the capital, Antananarivo.
CAPSAT, or the Personnel Administration and Technical and Administrative Services Corps, is the most powerful military unit in Madagascar.
The unit supported Rajoelina when he came into power in 2009, but joined the protesters on Saturday.
Madagascar’s constitutional court has named Col Randrianirina as the country’s new leader, even though a statement from the president’s office said he was still in charge and denounced what it described as an “attempted coup d’etat”.
Rajoelina’s whereabouts are unknown, but he has said he is sheltering in a “safe place” following an alleged attempt on his life by “military personnel and politicians”. CAPSAT has denied any involvement in any such move.
There have been unconfirmed reports that the president was flown out of the country on a French military aircraft.
Also on Tuesday the US state department urged all sides “to pursue a peaceful solution in line with the constitutional order”.
The unrest began just over two weeks ago, after a youth-led movement began protesting against chronic water and power cuts across the country.
Credit: bbc.com
