Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina said he had left the country because he feared for his life after a military rebellion, but he did not resign. Speaking through Facebook from an undisclosed location, he called for dialogue and respect for the constitution as an elite army formation sided with anti-government protesters.
The address was meant for national television but did not air there after troops tried to take control of state broadcasting facilities, according to the presidency. It was Rajoelina's first public statement since the CAPSAT unit joined thousands of demonstrators in Antananarivo and demanded that he and government ministers leave office.
Rajoelina described the events as an unlawful attempt to seize power. He did not explain his route out of Madagascar or reveal his location. Reports said a French military aircraft carried him abroad, but France's foreign ministry declined to confirm that account. His French citizenship has itself been controversial in the former French colony.
CAPSAT said it controlled Madagascar's armed forces and installed a new military commander, a decision accepted by the defence minister while Rajoelina was absent. The unit also gained backing from other forces, including the gendarmerie. Colonel Michael Randrianirina said soldiers had answered public demands but rejected the characterization of their action as a coup. He argued that citizens should determine whether the president left office and whether an election followed.
The crisis grew from demonstrations launched on September 25 over persistent electricity and water failures. Led initially by the online movement Gen Z Madagascar, the protests widened to encompass living costs, poverty, higher education access and accusations of official corruption and misuse of public funds. Labour unions and civic organizations later participated.
The United Nations reported at least 22 deaths and dozens of injuries during the unrest and criticized the authorities' violent reaction to largely peaceful early protests. Madagascar's government challenged that toll. One CAPSAT soldier was also killed when the unit exchanged fire with security personnel trying to suppress weekend demonstrations, though large-scale street fighting did not follow.
The African Union called on civilian and military actors to remain calm. The US embassy advised Americans to shelter because conditions were volatile.
Rajoelina's own political history added weight to the confrontation. He first led a transitional government after a military-supported takeover in 2009, when CAPSAT also played an important role. He won elections in 2018 and 2023, although opposition parties boycotted the latter vote. His departure in 2025 left authority contested: the president insisted he remained in office, while a military faction occupied a commanding position and protesters expected his removal.
