Following weeks of mounting anti-government demonstrations, Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has reportedly left the country just moments before he was expected to deliver a national address on state television.
An opposition lawmaker in the Indian Ocean nation claimed on Monday that Rajoelina fled after an elite military unit turned against his government in what appears to be an unfolding coup.
The lawmaker’s statement came shortly before Rajoelina was scheduled to appear on national TV for a speech to the people of Madagascar.According to the president’s office, his address was set to air on state television and radio at 7 pm local time (1600 GMT). However, officials did not confirm whether Rajoelina remained in the country amid growing reports that he had fled following weeks of deadly protests.
The demonstrations, which began as youth-led movements, took a dramatic turn on Saturday when soldiers from the elite CAPSAT military unit marched alongside protesters in the capital, Antananarivo, demanding that Rajoelina and several government officials step down.The CAPSAT unit, which had previously played a major role in bringing Rajoelina to power through a military-backed coup in 2009, announced that it had now assumed control of all armed forces in Madagascar.Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, the opposition leader in parliament, alleged that Rajoelina “ran away” from the country on Sunday after realizing the military had turned against him.
