Madagascar’s beleaguered leader Andry Rajoelina has announced he is in a “secure location” after an assassination attempt, which occurred after weeks of demands for his resignation.
During a live stream on Facebook, Rajoelina, age 51, claimed “a faction of military members and politicians conspired to kill me”.
While he did not disclose his whereabouts, earlier unverified reports indicated he may have escaped the nation aboard a French military plane.
This follows two weeks of protests across the country, predominantly orchestrated by young activists, seeking his removal from office.
Rajoelina’s unsuccessful efforts to appease the youthful protesters – referred to as “Gen Z Mada” – led to him dismissing his entire cabinet and making other adjustments without success.
Since Wednesday, he has been out of public view, and over the weekend, Rajoelina’s office reported that there were moves to oust him.
His national address was postponed multiple times on Monday due to the unrest, as military personnel threatened to seize the headquarters of state television on the island.
Eventually, in his Facebook message, he stated: “Since September 25, there have been attempts on my life and coup plots. A faction of military and political figures has conspired to assassinate me.
“I was compelled to find a secure place to ensure my safety.”
“The only solution to these challenges is to uphold the current constitution of the nation”.
Over the weekend, CAPSAT, a formidable military unit that aided in Rajoelina’s ascent to power in 2009, declared its leadership over all armed forces, with some of its officers joining demonstrators in the capital, Antananarivo.
After a conference of military leaders on Monday, CAPSAT appointed Gen Demosthene Pikulas as the new Chief of Army Staff, assuring the public that security forces were collaborating to maintain order on the island.
By Monday evening, the general was at the state TV headquarters addressing the crisis, according to the presidency’s statement.
A senior figure from Madagascar’s leading opposition party, TIM, speaking on condition of anonymity, informed the BBC that the nation is now essentially governed by the military unit.
The TIM party has also indicated plans to initiate impeachment proceedings against Rajoelina for “abandonment of post”.
Several individuals from Rajoelina’s close circle have escaped to nearby Mauritius, including former Prime Minister Richard Ravalomanana and businessman Maminiaina Ravatomanga.
Despite its rich natural resources, Madagascar remains one of the most impoverished nations globally. The World Bank states that approximately 75% of its population lives below the poverty line, while the International Monetary Fund (IMF) data indicates that just over one-third of the population has access to electricity.
The protests commenced over frustrations with ongoing water and power outages, and evolved into broader discontent regarding Rajoelina’s administration, including issues of high unemployment, corruption, and rising living costs.
According to the UN, over 22 individuals lost their lives and more than 100 sustained injuries in the initial days of the protests, although the government disputes these statistics.
Witnesses recount instances of security personnel firing upon demonstrators with live rounds. Notably, a newborn died from smoke inhalation after being exposed to tear gas.
Madagascar has experienced numerous uprisings since achieving independence in 1960, including major protests in 2009 that forced the then-President Marc Ravalomanana to resign, enabling Rajoelina to take office.
At just 34 at the time, Rajoelina became the youngest leader in Africa, ruling for four years before returning to power after the 2018 election.
Born into affluence, Rajoelina gained fame as an entrepreneur and DJ prior to his political career, establishing a radio station and an advertising firm in the meantime.
However, his polished, youthful charm quickly diminished as accusations of cronyism and deep-seated corruption became undeniable.
