Antananarivo, Oct 14: Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has fled the country following weeks of mass protests led primarily by Gen Z, marking the latest in a series of youth driven government upheavals worldwide, including Nepal and Bangladesh, Reuters reported.
According to opposition leader Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, Rajoelina departed Madagascar on Sunday after key army units sided with demonstrators. “We called the staff of the presidency and they confirmed that he left the country,” Randrianasoloniaiko said. The president later addressed the nation via Facebook, asserting he had relocated to a “safe location” for protection but refusing to disclose his whereabouts, while maintaining that he will not resign.
Reports indicate Rajoelina was evacuated aboard a French Army CASA aircraft, following a deal reportedly arranged with French President Emmanuel Macron. While Macron acknowledged the unrest, he stressed the importance of preserving constitutional order in Madagascar.
The protests erupted on September 25 over water and electricity shortages but quickly expanded into nationwide demonstrations against corruption, governance failures, and lack of basic services. Rajoelina’s authority further weakened when CAPSAT, an elite military unit previously loyal to him, refused to suppress protests and instead escorted demonstrators through Antananarivo. A paramilitary gendarmerie faction also defected, appointing its own chief and further destabilizing the government.
Amid the turmoil, the president of the Senate was removed, and Jean Andre Ndremanjary was named interim Senate leader. Under Madagascar’s constitution, the Senate head temporarily assumes presidential duties until new elections. Thousands gathered in the capital demanding Rajoelina’s resignation.
Protesters, predominantly young adults, criticized the government for decades of mismanagement and economic neglect. “In 16 years, the president and his government have enriched themselves while the youth suffer,” said 22 year old hotel worker Adrianarivony Fanomegantsoa.
The UN reports that at least 22 people have died in clashes with security forces since the demonstrations began. Madagascar, with a population of about 30 million and a median age under 20, faces some of the highest poverty levels globally, with per capita GDP dropping 45% between 1960 and 2020.
In one of his final acts before leaving, Rajoelina granted pardons to several individuals, including two French nationals convicted of a failed 2021 coup attempt, raising further questions about the transition of power in the island nation.