Madagascar Crisis Deepens as Soldiers Join Protests Against President Rajoelina

 By Emmaculate Cheruto 

 Tensions escalated dramatically in Madagascar on Saturday after elite soldiers joined thousands of anti-government protesters in the capital, marking a significant turning point in a weeks-long youth-led uprising demanding the resignation of President Andry Rajoelina.

In a stunning show of defiance, troops from the elite CAPSAT (Special Autonomous Regiment for Airborne and Parachute Commandos) unit rolled armored vehicles through the streets of Antananarivo, waving the national flag as they matched side-by-side with demonstrators. Their arrival electrified crowds previously blocked from gathering at key locations, including the symbolic 13 May Square, the heart of the country's political movements.

One of the unit’s leaders, Lylison René de Rolland, addressed the cheering masses from the square, delivering a passionate call for solidarity between the people and the armed forces. “Let us join forces — military, gendarmes, and police — and refuse to be paid to shoot our friends, our brothers, and our sisters,” he declared in a video that quickly went viral on social media. He also urged troops at the national airport to prevent aircraft from taking off, hinting at fears of government figures fleeing the country.

The unprecedented military support for the protests has ramped up pressure on President Rajoelina, who has not made any public statements or posts on his social media accounts since Friday evening. His last appearance was at a university event discussing education reform — a move now widely seen as out of step with the growing unrest.

Protests originally broke out on September 25, triggered by widespread water and electricity shortages. However, the movement has since swelled into a nationwide call for sweeping political change, driven largely by disillusioned youth. Many accuse the government of corruption, mismanagement, and ignoring the needs of ordinary citizens.

Earlier on Saturday, police used stun grenades and tear gas in an attempt to disperse demonstrators, but the intervention of the CAPSAT unit dramatically shifted the balance. By late afternoon, protesters had successfully reclaimed areas previously sealed off by security forces.

In a televised address on Saturday night, Prime Minister Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo called for calm and pledged dialogue. “The government is fully ready to listen and engage with all factions — youth unions or the military,” he said.

Meanwhile, the newly appointed Minister of the Armed Forces, General Deramasinjaka Manantisoa Rakotoarivelo, urged soldiers to stay neutral. “The Malagasy army remains a mediator and constitutes the nation's last line of defense,” he stated at a press conference, appealing for military units to “remain calm.”

Despite government reassurances, uncertainty hangs heavy in the air. A young activist from Gen Z Madagascar — a decentralized protest movement — voiced both hope and concern. “We are very happy, but a lot is happening. We don’t want another corrupt person to take power. We will do everything to make sure we have the right to choose who leads us.”

With the military now visibly split and the presidency silent, Madagascar stands on the brink of a potential political transformation — or crisis. All eyes are on what happens next.