Madagascar has plunged into its worst political crisis in over a decade after President Andry Rajoelina confirmed Monday that he has fled to a “safe location” amid escalating protests, military defections, and the apparent collapse of his government’s authority.
The 51-year-old president made the announcement in a live Facebook address, saying his move was to “protect his life and prevent further bloodshed,” following unconfirmed reports that a French military aircraft evacuated him from the island nation late Sunday.
He did not disclose his current whereabouts.
Rajoelina’s office said his planned national address was delayed after armed forces threatened to seize control of state television, deepening fears that Madagascar is on the brink of a military takeover.
According to a senior military source cited by Reuters, Rajoelina was airlifted by helicopter to Sainte Marie Airport before boarding a French Army Casa aircraft — a claim Paris has neither confirmed nor denied.
Speaking from the peace summit in Egypt, French President Emmanuel Macron said only that France was “deeply concerned” by the deteriorating situation in its former colony.
The unrest, which began September 25 over nationwide water and electricity shortages, has evolved into a full-scale uprising against corruption, inflation, and government mismanagement.
The United Nations estimates that at least 22 people have been killed in clashes between protesters and security forces over the past two weeks.
The crisis took a dramatic turn over the weekend when elements of the Madagascar Armed Forces defected, joining demonstrators in the capital, Antananarivo.
The CAPSAT elite unit, once instrumental in Rajoelina’s own 2009 coup against former President Marc Ravalomanana, announced that it had seized control of the country’s military command, accusing the president of betraying the revolution that first brought him to power.
“We refuse to fire on our people,” CAPSAT officers said in a televised statement, demanding Rajoelina’s resignation and the formation of a transitional council.
Crowds surged through central Antananarivo on Monday, chanting “Rajoelina must go!” as soldiers waved the national flag alongside civilians. “We want our president to apologise and step down,” said Finaritra Manitra Andrianamelasoa, a 24-year-old protester. “Then we can rebuild with elections and dignity.”
Analysts say the crisis mirrors the wave of Gen Z-led uprisings seen across the developing world, from Nepal to Nigeria — movements that blend social media activism with populist demands for accountability and reform.
Madagascar’s collapse is particularly alarming given its strategic location along the Mozambique Channel, a vital maritime route linking southern Africa to Asia.
The instability raises regional concerns about piracy, arms smuggling, and resource exploitation in the western Indian Ocean.
As night fell Monday, the fate of Madagascar’s presidency — and the man who once embodied its youthful promise — hung in uncertainty.
If confirmed, Rajoelina’s evacuation by France would mark the second time in 15 years he has come to power through military force, only to be driven out by it.
