Overview

• Madagascar’s presidency said an “attempted illegal and forcible seizure of power” was underway, offering no proof to support the claim.
• Members of the elite CAPSAT unit that helped Andry Rajoelina in 2009 urged fellow soldiers to disobey orders and support the protest movement.
• Reports a day earlier said some soldiers joined the demonstrations that began late last month.
• The youth-led protests started on September 25 over chronic electricity and water outages and are described as the biggest test to Rajoelina’s rule since his 2023 reelection.
• Rajoelina recently dissolved his government and named Major General Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo as prime minister, while the presidency expressed condolences for deaths in the unrest and called for dialogue and unity.