Madagascar has plunged into deep political turmoil as President Andry Rajoelina reportedly fled the country following widespread military defections and anti-government protests that have shaken the island nation.
According to multiple reports, including Reuters, opposition leader Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko claimed that Rajoelina left Madagascar on Sunday after several army units joined demonstrators demanding his resignation.
“We called the staff of the presidency, and they confirmed that he left the country,” Randrianasoloniaiko told Reuters.
Sources close to the military revealed that the embattled president departed aboard a French military aircraft.
French broadcaster RFI also reported that Rajoelina had reached a private agreement with French President Emmanuel Macron before his departure.
The president had been scheduled to address the nation on Monday evening but postponed the speech for the second time in a week.
His office blamed threats by soldiers to seize control of state television for the delay.
In a related twist, former Prime Minister Christian Ntsay and influential businessman Maminiaina Ravatomanga, a close ally of Rajoelina, also fled to Mauritius on Sunday.
The Mauritian government confirmed their arrival.
Before reportedly leaving the country, Rajoelina warned that a “plot to illegally seize power” was underway.
His warning came shortly before the elite army unit CAPSAT announced it had taken control of the military command, asserting authority over all land, air, and naval forces.
Across the capital, Antananarivo, scenes of jubilation and tension unfolded as protesters cheered soldiers who joined their ranks.
The shift in military loyalty sparked fears of a coup, even as the day ended without major violence.
What began three weeks ago as youth-led protests over chronic electricity blackouts and severe water shortages has evolved into a mass anti-government uprising known as “Gen Z Madagascar.”
The movement accuses Rajoelina’s administration of corruption, nepotism, and economic mismanagement.
According to the United Nations, at least 22 people have been killed since the protests began, though the government disputes that figure.
Civil society organizations, labor unions, and student groups have since joined the demonstrations, calling for accountability and leadership reform.
Observers say the latest developments mark Madagascar’s most severe political crisis since 2009, when Rajoelina himself came to power through a military-backed coup.
As of Tuesday, there has been no official confirmation of the president’s whereabouts or acknowledgment of a military takeover.
The nation remains on edge as the world watches for clarity on who now controls the government.
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