Madagascar's president claims coup attempt under way after elite army unit seizes control

Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina said that an attempted coup was under way in the African island country on Sunday after an elite army unit known as CAPSAT claimed control of the military, calling for the president to step down following anti-government protests.

The statement from Rajoelina’s office said he “wishes to inform the nation and the international community that an attempt to seize power illegally and by force” has been “initiated.”

“In view of the extreme gravity of this situation, the president’s office strongly condemns this attempt at destabilisation and calls upon all forces of the nation to unite in defence of constitutional order and national sovereignty,” the statement said.

Rajoelina’s office offered no details on who was behind the attempt, and no signs of violence were immediately visible on the streets on Sunday. The island nation has faced weeks of significant protests prior to the alleged coup attempt.

On Sunday, the minister of armed forces in Madagascar acknowledged that an officer had been selected by a military group supporting demonstrators calling for Rajoelina to resign as the country's new army chief.

Armed Forces Minister Manantsoa Deramasinjaka Rakotoarivelo attended the ceremony at army headquarters, where General Demosthene Pikulas was appointed Chief of the Army Staff.

At least 22 dead in weekslong youth protests

The protests are led by a group calling itself “Gen Z Madagascar,” and the United Nations says the demonstrations have left at least 22 people dead and dozens injured. The government has disputed this number.

On Saturday, the CAPSAT forces joined the weeks-long protests, which reports claim to be among the largest since the unrest began on 25 September.

A commander of the unit, Col. Michael Randrianirina, said his troops had exchanged fire with security forces who were attempting to quell the protests on Saturday and that one of his soldiers had been killed.

Speaking to crowds from an armoured vehicle, Randrianirina said that Rajoelina, his new prime minister, the minister of the gendarmerie and the commander of the gendarmerie “must leave power.” That’s all.”

“Do we call this a coup? I don’t know yet,” Randrianirina had said.

The whereabouts of the president were not immediately known on Sunday. Rajoelina’s government said in a statement that he remained in the country and had not fled.

The 51-year-old Rajoelina first came to power as the leader of a transitional government, following a 2009 military-backed coup that forced then-President Marc Ravalomanana to flee the country. He returned in 2014 but hasn’t held office since.

Meanwhile, in an email message on Sunday, Air France's French division announced that flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport and Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, will not operate from Saturday to Tuesday "due to the security situation" on the ground.

According to Air France, "the resumption of operations will remain subject to a daily assessment of the situation," and the airline was keeping a close eye on the situation with authorities.

A large island of 31 million people off the east coast of Africa, Madagascar has had several leaders removed in coups after gaining independence from France in 1960.