Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina addressed the nation on Monday from an undisclosed “safe place,” following an alleged assassination attempt and mounting political unrest across the country. In his first public appearance since a faction of the military backed ongoing anti-government protests, Rajoelina stated, “Since September 25, there have been attempts on my life and coup attempts. A group of military personnel and politicians planned to assassinate me.
He did not disclose his location, but rumors swirled that he had fled Madagascar on a French military aircraft, which was not officially confirmed by French authorities. The unrest began with youth-led demonstrations over chronic water and power outages but quickly escalated into calls for Rajoelina’s resignation.
Soldiers from the influential CAPSAT unit, vital in Rajoelina’s 2009 rise to power, openly joined the protesters, refusing orders to suppress the movement and shifting the balance of power. Despite growing demands to step down, Rajoelina insisted the only solution was adherence to Madagascar’s constitution. The President’s government dismissed these claims, but the crisis continues to deepen, with the political future of the nation uncertain.
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