Her presidency Madagascar stated on Sunday that he is in evolution of attempted violent occupation of poweras more soldiers express their support toward a protest movementwhich has shaken the island state of Africa for more than two weeks.

Troops of the Capsat unit elite, which had helped the president Andry Rajoelina To seize power in 2009, they called on their colleagues on Saturday to obtain orders and to support the protesters. Protests, started on September 25th by local social demands, have now become the most serious challenge for Rajoelina’s power since his re -election in 2023.

On Sunday, Capsat officers said they had taken control of the country’s security operations and will coordinate all the bodies of the Armed Forces from their base on the outskirts of the capital, Antananariv. They also said that they appointed General Demosthene Pikulas, a former head of the military academy, as head of the army.

Gendarmers are changing sides, the president’s location unknown

A unit of the paramilitary gendarmerie, who has so far been trying with the police to suppress demonstrations, also interrupted its cooperation with the government on Sunday.

“Any use of violence and any inappropriate behavior towards our fellow citizens is prohibited, as the gendarmerie is the power to protect the people and not to defend the interests of a few people,” the National Gendarmerie’s intervention forces said in a statement reported by Real TV.

The announcement added that the gendarmerie is in tune with the Capsat headquarters.

The Ministry of Defense and the Army General Staff refused to comment.

Reuters witnessed three injured after shooting along the road leading to the Capsat barracks on Sunday. However, there were no evidence of continuing conflicts.

In a statement posted on the president’s social networking accounts, Rajoelina’s office said that “an illegal and violent attempt to seize power” was underway, adding that the president has invited a dialogue to resolve the crisis.

On Saturday night, the Presidential Office had stated that Rajoelina and the prime minister “fully control the cases of the nation”.

However, on Sunday the president’s location remained unknown, with many Madagascar citizens believing that he had left the country.

Young people of ‘Generation Z’ are calling for the president’s resignation

The demonstrations, inspired by Generation Z movements in Kenya and Nepal, began due to water and electricity shortages. Since then they have expanded, with protesters calling for Rajoelina’s resignation, sorry for the violence against protesters, as well as the dismantling of the Senate and the Election Committee.

Along the Avenue of Independence, the central artery of Antananarivo, a journalist at Reuters saw protesters shouting anti -government slogans, waving Madagascar flags and passing by motorcycles.

“The president has been in power for over 15 years, and there is still no water, no electricity, no jobs,” said Vanessa Rafanomezantsoa, ​​24, an unemployed mother of two, dressed in torn clothes.

“Look at Madagascar – they (the government) are rich, and we don’t have to eat.”

Earlier, protesters paid tribute to a dead Capsat soldier, whom the unit said he was killed by the gendarmerie on Saturday. The peaceful rally was attended by ecclesiastical leaders, opposition politicians – including former President Marc Ravalomanana – as well as Capsat soldiers.

Some demonstrators wore t -shirts and flags with the same symbol – a head of a wicker hat from Japanese Manga Piece – used by new protesters in countries such as Indonesia and Peru.

African union invites to calm and self -restraint

Madagascar, a country with an average age of under 20, has a population of about 30 million, of which three quarters live in poverty, according to the World Bank. The average annual income remains at $ 600, while food prices have been launched.

A video broadcast by local media showed dozens of troops coming out of the barracks on Saturday to accompany thousands of protesters on May 13th in Antananarivo – a point of political uprisings – which until then was strictly guarded and was a forbidden zone during it.

The head of the African Union Committee, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, called on all sides to calm and restraint.

Citing the ground security situation, Air France-KLM’s French subsidiary (Airf.Pa) suspended flights between Paris-Sarl de Gaulle and Antananarivo from 11 to 13 October.