Madagascar’s embattled President Andry Rajoelina said he has dissolved the national assembly – the lower house of parliament – with immediate effect.
This came after the opposition said it would start impeachment proceedings against him in parliament for “abandonment of post”.
Rajoelina had earlier said in a live broadcast to the nation on Facebook that he was forced to shelter in a “safe place” after an attempt on his life, following weeks of protests calling for him to quit.
He did not confirm reports that he had fled Madagascar on a French military aircraft.
A powerful military unit has thrown its weight behind protesters demanding his resignation.
Here are the key developments:
- President Andry Rajoelina’s office says a group of soldiers have threatened to seize state TV
- This has delayed his plan to address the nation, it says
- The presidency has not give clarity on Rajoelina’s whereabouts, with reports throughout the day saying he has left the country
- A senior army general says the security forces are working together to maintain order in the island nation
- Thousands of protesters have gathered in the capital to ramp up pressure on the president to resign
- This follows more than two weeks of youth-led protests over high unemployment, the cost of living and corruption
What has been going on in Madagascar?
A lot has happened over the past few days in Madagascar – here’s a quick recap:
- Unexpectedly, Madagascar’s powerful CAPSAT army unit 7on Saturday joined the thousands of protesters who have been staging anti-government demonstrations for more than two weeks
- Subsequently, President Andry Rajoelina was evacuated by a French military aircraft on Sunday, France’s national broadcaster RFI reported, but there has been no official confirmation of this
- In an address on Monday, Rajoelina said he is sheltering in a “safe place” after a group of military personnel and politicians allegedly planned to kill him
- A senior army general said the security forces are working together to maintain order in the island nation
President’s decree to dissolve parliament not valid, opposition says
The leader of the opposition in parliament has said President Andry Rajoelina’s decree to dissolve the national assembly – the lower house of parliament – is “not legally valid”, Reuters news agency is reporting.
“This decree is not legally valid… the president of the national assembly says he was not consulted,” Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko is quoted as saying.
President makes addition to his political circle
Shortly after announcing he was dissolving the national assembly, President Rajoelina shares that he has made an addition to his political entourage.
Lova Tahina Rajaoarinelina has been appointed as a special advisor to the president and is in charge of “relations with institutions”.
Ms Rajaoarinelina has previously been an adviser to the speaker of the national assembly.
Air France extends suspension of flights to Madagascar
Air France says it is extending the suspension of flights to Madagascar at least until Friday, AFP news agency is reporting.
“The resumption of operations will remain subject to a daily assessment of the situation on the ground,” the French national airline told AFP.
At the weekend, the airline said the suspension would last for two days.
Rajoelina must apologise, protesters say
Protesters in Madagascar are waiting for Rajoelina to speak, with one student telling the AFP news agency that he hopes the president “will apologise and genuinely announce his resignation”.
“Afterwards, we can consider organising elections and determine who will be suitable to take the leadership role,” Finaritra Manitra Andrianamelasoa, 24, added.
Steven Rasolonjanahary,19, said: “We already expect him to offer his apologies to all Malagasy citizens, as we have had many casualties, relatives, who have been injured during the protests.”
UN human rights chief Volker Türk previously said at least 22 people were killed and 100 others injured.
Rajoelina disputed the figure, putting the death toll at 12 and “all of these individuals were looters and vandals”.
Rajoelina’s speech postponed – again
We have just had official word that Rajoelina’s speech has been postponed, again. The president’s office said the address will now take place at 21:30 local time (18:30 GMT) “due to ongoing negotiations”.
Earlier, the presidency said soldiers had threatened to seize the headquarters of state TV, and the army’s chief of staff was trying to resolve the crisis.
President’s speech delayed again as soap airs on TV
Madagascar’s embattled President Andry Rajoelina was supposed to address the nation at 20:30 local time (17:30 GMT), after already postponing his speech once.
However, a broadcast of his speech has not yet appeared on the state TV channel or his social media platforms.
State TV is currently airing a soap.
Madagascar being ‘served same dish’ with army rebellion
CAPSAT, a powerful army unit, has defied the president’s authority over the past few days, contributing to his increased isolation.
But 16 years ago, the unit actually helped Rajoelina seize power. With CAPSAT’s might, Rajoelina was able to overthrow then-President Marc Ravalomanana in a coup.
“Sixteen-and-a-half years later, the Malagasy people are being served the same dish,” local news outlet Midi-Madagasikara wrote on Monday.
Presidency silent on Rajoelina’s whereabouts
Madagascar’s presidency has not given details of the soldiers whom it says have threatened to seize the headquarters of state TV.
Its statement merely said that the army’s new chief of staff, Gen Demosthene Pikulas, is at the site, trying to resolve the crisis.
Nor did the presidency answer the question everyone has been asking all day: Where is the president?
There have been numerous reports that Rajoelina has left the country, but there is still no official confirmation – or denial – of this.
Emotional scenes in Madagascar’s capital
Huge crowds have converged on the main square in Madagascar’s capital, Antananarivo, to keep up the pressure on President Andry Rajoelina.
Prayers were also held for Safidy Rakooarisoa, whose family says he died during the demonstrations that started on 25 September.
Reuters news agency says family members brought his body to Independence Avenue for prayers:
- People raised their hands in solidarity with the family:
Image source,ReutersA relative of Rakooarisoa was comforted as she wept:
Image source,ReutersIt is unclear how Rakooarisoa died. UN human rights chief Volker Türk previously accused the security forces of using “unnecessary and disproportionate force” to quell the unrest.He said at least 22 people were killed and 100 others injured.Rajoelina disputed the figure last week, saying there were 12 confirmed deaths and “all of these individuals were looters and vandals”.Share - Soldiers celebrate in street with protestersSoldiers and security forces in Madagascar’s capital joined protesters celebrating Rajoelina’s weakened grip on power, AFP reported.According to the news agency, soldiers from army unit CAPSAT were seen among the crowds on Monday, and so were officers from the gendarmerie, who were previously accused of using heavy-handed tactics to end the protests.
CAPSAT effectively running country – opposition leader
Madagascar is now effectively being run by the powerful military unit known as CAPSAT, a senior leader in Madagascar’s largest opposition party has told me.
The politician pointed to the recent selection of a new army chief of staff, saying that CAPSAT made the appointment and “didn’t consult the appointed ministers”.
“It shows they don’t respect them,” said the opposition politician, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Speech delayed as soldiers ‘threaten to seize state media’
Rajoelina’s speech has been postponed to 20:30 local time (17:30 GMT) because a group of armed soldiers is threatening to take over the state media headquarters, the president’s office has said.
The army’s new chief of staff, Gen Demosthene Pikulas, is attempting to resolve the situation, the statement added.
Rajoelina released prisoners before fleeing – report
Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina released eight political prisoners on Sunday, including at least one Franco-Malagasy dual national jailed in connection with an alleged coup plot in 2021, privately-owned 24h Mada has posted on Facebook, external.
This may have been one of Rajoelina’s last decisions as president, before he reportedly fled Madagascar in a French helicopter with the approval of President Emmanuel Macron.
According to the reported decree, the other prisoners whose sentences were commuted by Rajoelina include two journalists, an opposition MP and a businessman and former aide to ex-President Hery Rajaonarimamoinanina.
Rajoelina allies flee to Mauritius
Christian Ntsay, Rajoelina’s former prime minister, and Maminiaina Ravatomanga, a businessman close to Rajoelina, flew to Mauritius “urgently” early on Sunday, the Mauritian government has said.
In a statement, it denied interfering in Madagascar’s affairs, adding it was “not satisfied” with how the plane was authorised to land in the country.
President Rajoelina had sacked Ntsay in a failed attempt to placate demonstrators angry about chronic water and power cuts, corruption, and the high cost of living.
Meanwhile, protesters had called for Ravatomanga to be investigated – they view him as a symbol of the political and economic elite that has prospered at the expense of ordinary citizens.
Defence minister may be the most powerful man right now
Madagascar’s Defence Minister Manantsoa Deramasinjaka Rakotoarivelo may be the most powerful figure in the country at the moment.
After dissolving his government, President Andry Rajoelina appointed an army general as his new prime minister and later filled in only three cabinet posts – Defence, Gendarmerie, and Public Security, placing the military at the centre of political control.
Today, as commanders of different branches of the armed forces convened to defuse internal tensions and discuss ways to strengthen cooperation, the defence minister was in attendance. The new prime minister was not seen.
These talks position the defence minister as a central power-broker, with reports surfacing that the military is holding closed-door meetings with key political leaders, including from the opposition, as well as civil society and religious leaders, in a bid to shape the country’s future.
‘My one-month-old grandson was killed by police tear gas’
At least 22 people have been killed since the protests began more than two weeks ago, according to UN figures.
Among them was Razanasoa Edmondine’s new-born grandson.
The one-month-old baby had been to the market with his mother when police turned up and fired tear gas at protesters. They fled into a nearby building which police then fired more tear gas canisters into – quickly filling it with choking smoke.
“The baby was trying to cry but no sound came out,” his grandmother tells the BBC.
“It was like something was blocking his chest. The doctor told us he had inhaled too much smoke. A couple of days later, he passed away.”
BBC