Madagascar president says 'illegal power grab' underway after army mutiny
A mutinied army unit declared Sunday that it was taking control of all Madagascar military forces as President Andry Rajoelina said an "attempt to seize power illegally" was under way.
Issued on: 12/10/2025 - RFI
Calls to resign
They clashed with gendarmes outside a barracks and rode into the city on army vehicles to join the demonstrators on the symbolic Place du 13 Mai in front of Antananarivo's city hall, where they were welcomed with cheers and calls for Rajoelina to resign.
The president released a statement Sunday saying "an attempt to seize power illegally and by force, contrary to the Constitution and to democratic principles, is currently under way."
"Dialogue is the only way forward and the only solution to the crisis currently facing the country," he said, calling for "unity".
Ready to listen?
Saturday's demonstration in Madagascar's capital Antananarivo was one of the biggest since the protest movement erupted on 25 September, sparked by anger over power and water shortages.
The United Nations has said that at least 22 people were killed in the first days of the protests, some killed by security forces and others in violence sparked by criminal gangs and looters in the wake of the demonstrations.
Rajoelina has disputed the toll, saying last week there were "12 confirmed deaths and all of these individuals were looters and vandals".
According to local media, the emergency services reported another two dead and 26 injured on Saturday. The CAPSAT unit said a soldier was also shot by gendarmes and died.
In an effort to address the unrest, Rajoelina last week dismissed his entire government. On Monday he appointed army General Rufin Fortunat Zafisambo as prime minister and gave him six months to improve basic services and curb corruption, a move which has failed to ease tensions.
The government on Sunday ensured that Rajoelina remained "in the country" and was "managing national affairs", while the newly appointed prime minister said the government was "standing strong" and "ready to collaborate and listen".
Also on Sunday, Air France announced a suspension of flights to Madagascar for two days.
(with AFP)
A mutinied army unit declared Sunday that it was taking control of all Madagascar military forces as President Andry Rajoelina said an "attempt to seize power illegally" was under way.
Issued on: 12/10/2025 - RFI
Protesters cheer next to a Madagascar military vehicle during a nationwide youth-led protest over frequent power outages and water shortages, in Antananarivo, Madagascar, 11 October, 2025.
REUTERS - Zo Andrianjafy
The CAPSAT contingent of administrative and technical officers joined thousands of protesters in the city centre on Saturday in a major shift in a more than two-week anti-government youth-led protest movement.
The unit had earlier declared that it would "refuse orders to shoot" and criticised the gendarmerie, who have been accused of using heavy-handed tactics against protesters, causing several deaths.
"From now on, all orders of the Malagasy army – whether land, air or the army – will originate from CAPSAT headquarters," officers of the CAPSAT contingent of administrative and technical officers claimed in a video statement.
The officers said they had named General Demosthene Pikulas as the head of the army – a post that had been vacant since the former head was appointed minister of armed forces last week – although it was not clear if the posting could be considered official.
There was no immediate response from other units or the military command.
Soldiers based in the outskirts of Antananarivo on Saturday morning called on security units to "join forces" and to "refuse orders to shoot", repudiating the violent crackdown on the protests.
The CAPSAT contingent of administrative and technical officers joined thousands of protesters in the city centre on Saturday in a major shift in a more than two-week anti-government youth-led protest movement.
The unit had earlier declared that it would "refuse orders to shoot" and criticised the gendarmerie, who have been accused of using heavy-handed tactics against protesters, causing several deaths.
"From now on, all orders of the Malagasy army – whether land, air or the army – will originate from CAPSAT headquarters," officers of the CAPSAT contingent of administrative and technical officers claimed in a video statement.
The officers said they had named General Demosthene Pikulas as the head of the army – a post that had been vacant since the former head was appointed minister of armed forces last week – although it was not clear if the posting could be considered official.
There was no immediate response from other units or the military command.
Soldiers based in the outskirts of Antananarivo on Saturday morning called on security units to "join forces" and to "refuse orders to shoot", repudiating the violent crackdown on the protests.
Calls to resign
They clashed with gendarmes outside a barracks and rode into the city on army vehicles to join the demonstrators on the symbolic Place du 13 Mai in front of Antananarivo's city hall, where they were welcomed with cheers and calls for Rajoelina to resign.
The president released a statement Sunday saying "an attempt to seize power illegally and by force, contrary to the Constitution and to democratic principles, is currently under way."
"Dialogue is the only way forward and the only solution to the crisis currently facing the country," he said, calling for "unity".
Protesters vandalise a Gendarmerie armoured vehicle as members of a section of the Malagasy army take control of the area around Lake Anosy following clashes between demonstrators and security forces during protests calling for the resignation of President Andry Rajoelina in Antananarivo, on 11 October, 2025.
AFP - LUIS TATO
Officers of the gendarmerie, which has been accused of violence against protesters, on Sunday morning released a video statement recognising "faults and excesses during our interventions" and calling for "fraternity" between the army and the gendarmes.
"We are here to protect, not to terrorise," they said, adding that "from now on, all orders will come solely" from the gendarmerie's headquarters.
The soldiers calling on the military to desist from cracking down on protesters were from the CAPSAT contingent of administrative and technical officers in the Soanierana district on the outskirts of Antananarivo.
The Soanierana military base in 2009 led a mutiny during a popular uprising that brought Rajoelina to power.
The African Union Commission on Sunday expressed "deep concern" at the situation in Madagascar.
"The Chairperson of the Commission welcomes the Government's renewed commitment to dialogue and urges all Malagasy stakeholders, both civilian and military, to exercise calm and restraint," it said in a statement.
Neighbour South Africa also called upon "all parties to respect the democratic process and constitutional order".
Officers of the gendarmerie, which has been accused of violence against protesters, on Sunday morning released a video statement recognising "faults and excesses during our interventions" and calling for "fraternity" between the army and the gendarmes.
"We are here to protect, not to terrorise," they said, adding that "from now on, all orders will come solely" from the gendarmerie's headquarters.
The soldiers calling on the military to desist from cracking down on protesters were from the CAPSAT contingent of administrative and technical officers in the Soanierana district on the outskirts of Antananarivo.
The Soanierana military base in 2009 led a mutiny during a popular uprising that brought Rajoelina to power.
The African Union Commission on Sunday expressed "deep concern" at the situation in Madagascar.
"The Chairperson of the Commission welcomes the Government's renewed commitment to dialogue and urges all Malagasy stakeholders, both civilian and military, to exercise calm and restraint," it said in a statement.
Neighbour South Africa also called upon "all parties to respect the democratic process and constitutional order".
Ready to listen?
Saturday's demonstration in Madagascar's capital Antananarivo was one of the biggest since the protest movement erupted on 25 September, sparked by anger over power and water shortages.
The United Nations has said that at least 22 people were killed in the first days of the protests, some killed by security forces and others in violence sparked by criminal gangs and looters in the wake of the demonstrations.
Rajoelina has disputed the toll, saying last week there were "12 confirmed deaths and all of these individuals were looters and vandals".
According to local media, the emergency services reported another two dead and 26 injured on Saturday. The CAPSAT unit said a soldier was also shot by gendarmes and died.
In an effort to address the unrest, Rajoelina last week dismissed his entire government. On Monday he appointed army General Rufin Fortunat Zafisambo as prime minister and gave him six months to improve basic services and curb corruption, a move which has failed to ease tensions.
The government on Sunday ensured that Rajoelina remained "in the country" and was "managing national affairs", while the newly appointed prime minister said the government was "standing strong" and "ready to collaborate and listen".
Also on Sunday, Air France announced a suspension of flights to Madagascar for two days.
(with AFP)
Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina said in a statement on Sunday that "an attempt to seize power illegally and by force" was underway in the Indian Ocean island state, a day after some soldiers joined a vast protest movement that started last month. The mutinied army unit announced it was taking control of all military forces in the country.
Issued on: 12/10/2025
By: FRANCE 24
Protesters cheer members of the Madagascar military behind a fence during a nationwide youth-led demonstration in Antananarivo on October 11, 2025.
© Zo Andrianjafy, Reuters
02:20
02:20
Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina on Sunday said an "attempt to seize power illegally and by force" was under way, a day after a contingent of soldiers joined thousands of anti-government protesters in the capital.
Rajoelina's statement came as the CAPSAT contingent of administrative and technical officers said it was taking control of the army, after earlier repudiating the violent crackdown on youth-led protests that have rocked the Indian Ocean island for more than two weeks.
"From now on, all orders of the Malagasy army – whether land, air or the navy – will originate from CAPSAT headquarters," the officers claimed in a video statement.
There was no immediate response from other units or the military command.
The newly appointed minister of the armed forces called on troops to 'remain calm' in a press conference Saturday. © Rijasolo, AFP
Soldiers from the unit clashed with gendarmes outside a barracks on Saturday and rode into the city on army vehicles to join the demonstrators on the symbolic Place du 13 Mai in front of Antananarivo's city hall, where they were welcomed with cheers and calls for Rajoelina to resign.
The embattled president released a statement Sunday saying "an attempt to seize power illegally and by force, contrary to the Constitution and to democratic principles, is currently under way".
"Dialogue is the only way forward and the only solution to the crisis currently facing the country," the statement added, calling for "unity".
Meanwhile, Air France on Sunday announced that it has suspended its flights to Madagascar until at least Tuesday.
"Given the security situation at that destination, Air France is suspending its services between Paris Charles de Gaulle (airport) and Antananarivo (Madagascar's capital)... to October 13, 2025 inclusive," it said in a statement.
'Faults'
Saturday's demonstration in the Malagasy capital of Antananarivo was one of the biggest since the protest movement erupted on September 25, sparked by anger over power and water shortages.
As it sided with protesters, the CAPSAT unit said it would "refuse orders to shoot" and criticised the gendarmerie, who have been accused of using heavy-handed tactics and causing several deaths.
"Because they are non-commissioned officers, CAPSAT officers say they are part of the population and experience the same difficulties with power and water cuts," said FRANCE 24's correspondent Gaëlle Borgia.
Officers of the gendarmerie said in a video statement Sunday that they recognised "faults and excesses during our interventions", calling for "fraternity" between the army and the gendarmes.
"We are here to protect, not to terrorise," they said, adding that "from now on, all orders will come solely" from the gendarmerie's headquarters.
Soldiers from the unit clashed with gendarmes outside a barracks on Saturday and rode into the city on army vehicles to join the demonstrators on the symbolic Place du 13 Mai in front of Antananarivo's city hall, where they were welcomed with cheers and calls for Rajoelina to resign.
The embattled president released a statement Sunday saying "an attempt to seize power illegally and by force, contrary to the Constitution and to democratic principles, is currently under way".
"Dialogue is the only way forward and the only solution to the crisis currently facing the country," the statement added, calling for "unity".
Meanwhile, Air France on Sunday announced that it has suspended its flights to Madagascar until at least Tuesday.
"Given the security situation at that destination, Air France is suspending its services between Paris Charles de Gaulle (airport) and Antananarivo (Madagascar's capital)... to October 13, 2025 inclusive," it said in a statement.
'Faults'
Saturday's demonstration in the Malagasy capital of Antananarivo was one of the biggest since the protest movement erupted on September 25, sparked by anger over power and water shortages.
As it sided with protesters, the CAPSAT unit said it would "refuse orders to shoot" and criticised the gendarmerie, who have been accused of using heavy-handed tactics and causing several deaths.
"Because they are non-commissioned officers, CAPSAT officers say they are part of the population and experience the same difficulties with power and water cuts," said FRANCE 24's correspondent Gaëlle Borgia.
Officers of the gendarmerie said in a video statement Sunday that they recognised "faults and excesses during our interventions", calling for "fraternity" between the army and the gendarmes.
"We are here to protect, not to terrorise," they said, adding that "from now on, all orders will come solely" from the gendarmerie's headquarters.
Rajoelina 'in the country'
The government on Sunday night assured that Rajoelina remained "in the country" and was managing national affairs, while the newly appointed prime minister said the government was "standing strong" and "ready to collaborate and listen".
The United Nations has said that at least 22 people were killed in the first days of the protests that started on September 25, some killed by security forces and others in violence sparked by criminal gangs and looters in the wake of the demonstrations.
© France 24
01:32
01:32
Rajoelina has disputed the toll, saying last week there were "12 confirmed deaths and all of these individuals were looters and vandals".
According to local media, the emergency services reported another two dead and 26 injured on Saturday. The CAPSAT unit said a soldier was also shot by gendarmes and died.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Madagascar: Elite army unit turns on President Rajoelina
After an elite CAPSAT unit sided with protesters in Madagascar's capital, the soldiers claimed to control the entire military. President Andry Rajoelina said an "attempt to seize power illegally" was underway.
Madagascar's influential CAPSAT military unit said it was in control of the country's entire military, according to a statement published Sunday.
The statement came to light as Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina said an "attempt to seize power illegally and by force" was underway.
"From now on, all orders of the Malagasy army — whether land, air, or military — will come from the headquarters of CAPSAT," officers from the contingent said in its video statement.
The same unit mutinied in 2009 during the uprising that brought Rajoelina to power.
Later on Sunday, General Demosthene Pikulas was installed as Chief of the Army Staff during a ceremony at the army headquarters attended by armed forces minister, Manantsoa Deramasinjaka Rakotoarivelo.
"I give him my blessing," the minister said.
Pikulas was chosen by the mutinying CAPSAT unit.
What is happening in Madagascar?
On Saturday, the CAPSAT faction of soldiers joined thousands of anti-government "Gen-Z" protesters in the capital. While the protests were triggered by anger over police brutality and power and water shortages, escalating unrest has since evolved into a broader demand for political change.
Saturday's protest was one of the largest since the demonstrations began on September 25.
Soldiers from the CAPSAT unit, based in the Soanierana district on the southern outskirts of Antananarivo, left their barracks, called on security forces to "refuse orders to shoot" and condemned the recent police crackdown.
The troops clashed with gendarmes before driving into the city to join protesters gathered on the symbolic Place du 13 Mai in front of city hall, where they were greeted with cheers and chants for Rajoelina's resignation.
According to UN figures, at least 22 people have been killed and more than 100 injured since the protests began. Rajoelina has disputed those numbers, claiming Wednesday that there had been only 12 deaths and insisting those killed had been "all looters and vandals."
What did Madagascar's president say about a coup?
"The Presidency of the Republic wishes to inform the nation and the international community that an attempt to seize power illegally and by force, contrary to the Constitution and to democratic principles, is currently underway," Rajoelina said in a statement released by the presidency Sunday morning.
In 2009, mass demonstrations forced then-president Marc Ravalomanana from power, paving the way for the military to install Rajoelina for his first term. He later won re-election in 2018 and again in 2023, though both votes were marred by opposition challenges and allegations of irregularities.
Edited by: Darko Janjevic
Richard Connor Reporting on stories from around the world, with a particular focus on Europe — especially Germany.
DW with AFP, Reuters
12/10/2025
12/10/2025
After an elite CAPSAT unit sided with protesters in Madagascar's capital, the soldiers claimed to control the entire military. President Andry Rajoelina said an "attempt to seize power illegally" was underway.
Madagascar's influential CAPSAT military unit said it was in control of the country's entire military, according to a statement published Sunday.
The statement came to light as Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina said an "attempt to seize power illegally and by force" was underway.
"From now on, all orders of the Malagasy army — whether land, air, or military — will come from the headquarters of CAPSAT," officers from the contingent said in its video statement.
The same unit mutinied in 2009 during the uprising that brought Rajoelina to power.
Later on Sunday, General Demosthene Pikulas was installed as Chief of the Army Staff during a ceremony at the army headquarters attended by armed forces minister, Manantsoa Deramasinjaka Rakotoarivelo.
"I give him my blessing," the minister said.
Pikulas was chosen by the mutinying CAPSAT unit.
What is happening in Madagascar?
On Saturday, the CAPSAT faction of soldiers joined thousands of anti-government "Gen-Z" protesters in the capital. While the protests were triggered by anger over police brutality and power and water shortages, escalating unrest has since evolved into a broader demand for political change.
Saturday's protest was one of the largest since the demonstrations began on September 25.
Soldiers from the CAPSAT unit, based in the Soanierana district on the southern outskirts of Antananarivo, left their barracks, called on security forces to "refuse orders to shoot" and condemned the recent police crackdown.
The troops clashed with gendarmes before driving into the city to join protesters gathered on the symbolic Place du 13 Mai in front of city hall, where they were greeted with cheers and chants for Rajoelina's resignation.
According to UN figures, at least 22 people have been killed and more than 100 injured since the protests began. Rajoelina has disputed those numbers, claiming Wednesday that there had been only 12 deaths and insisting those killed had been "all looters and vandals."
What did Madagascar's president say about a coup?
"The Presidency of the Republic wishes to inform the nation and the international community that an attempt to seize power illegally and by force, contrary to the Constitution and to democratic principles, is currently underway," Rajoelina said in a statement released by the presidency Sunday morning.
The government says Rajoelina remains 'in the country' and was 'managing national affairs'
Image: Alexander Joe/AP Photo/picture alliance
Newly appointed Prime Minister Ruphin Zafisambo on Saturday evening said the government "remains firm" and is "ready to collaborate and listen to all forces — the youth, unions, and the army." He warned that "Madagascar will not withstand another crisis if this division among citizens continues."
The presidency issued a statement assuring that President Andry Rajoelina "remains in the country" and "continues to manage national affairs."
Rajoelina installed by the military
Madagascar, one of the world’s poorest countries, has a long history of political upheaval and popular uprisings since gaining independence from France in 1960.
Newly appointed Prime Minister Ruphin Zafisambo on Saturday evening said the government "remains firm" and is "ready to collaborate and listen to all forces — the youth, unions, and the army." He warned that "Madagascar will not withstand another crisis if this division among citizens continues."
The presidency issued a statement assuring that President Andry Rajoelina "remains in the country" and "continues to manage national affairs."
Rajoelina installed by the military
Madagascar, one of the world’s poorest countries, has a long history of political upheaval and popular uprisings since gaining independence from France in 1960.
What you need to know about Madagascar's Gen Z protests 01:28
In 2009, mass demonstrations forced then-president Marc Ravalomanana from power, paving the way for the military to install Rajoelina for his first term. He later won re-election in 2018 and again in 2023, though both votes were marred by opposition challenges and allegations of irregularities.
Edited by: Darko Janjevic
Richard Connor Reporting on stories from around the world, with a particular focus on Europe — especially Germany.
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