Madagascar Military Crisis: Army Unit Seizes Control Amid Growing Anti-Government Protests

Soldiers engaged in confrontations with gendarmes and moved into Antananarivo using army vehicles to support demonstrators.

Antananarivo:

On Sunday, a mutinied army contingent announced it was assuming control of all Madagascar's military forces, while President Andry Rajoelina stated that an "attempt to seize power illegally" was currently in progress.

The CAPSAT unit, comprising administrative and technical officers, joined thousands of protesters in the city center on Saturday, marking a significant development in the anti-government protest movement that has lasted over two weeks.

Earlier, the unit had declared they would "refuse orders to shoot" and criticized the gendarmerie, who have been accused of employing excessive force against protesters, resulting in several fatalities.

By Sunday, the CAPSAT officers claimed in a video statement that "from now on, all orders of the Malagasy army -- whether land, air or the navy -- will originate from CAPSAT headquarters".

The officers announced General Demosthene Pikulas as the new army head -- filling a position vacant since the former commander was appointed minister of armed forces last week -- though the official status of this appointment remained unclear.

Other military units and the existing command structure did not immediately respond to these developments.

On Saturday, soldiers from the unit clashed with gendarmes near a barracks before moving into the city on military vehicles to join demonstrators, who welcomed them enthusiastically while calling for Rajoelina's resignation.

Another gathering and prayer service took place in the capital on Sunday.

President Rajoelina released a statement Sunday declaring that "an attempt to seize power illegally and by force, contrary to the Constitution and to democratic principles, is currently under way."

"Dialogue is the only way forward and the only solution to the crisis currently facing the country," he added, appealing for "unity".

Earlier Sunday, gendarmerie officers acknowledged in a video statement "faults and excesses during our interventions," calling for "fraternity" between the army and gendarmes.

"We are here to protect, not to terrorise," they stated, adding that "from now on, all orders will come solely" from gendarmerie headquarters.

Saturday's demonstration in Antananarivo was among the largest since the protest movement began on September 25, triggered by frustration over power and water shortages.

The government assured on Saturday night that Rajoelina remained "in the country" and was managing national affairs, while the newly appointed prime minister indicated the government was "standing strong" and "ready to collaborate and listen".

The CAPSAT contingent operates from the Soanierana district on Antananarivo's outskirts.

This same military base led a mutiny during a 2009 popular uprising that brought Rajoelina to power.

On Sunday, the African Union Commission expressed "deep concern" regarding the situation in Madagascar.

"The Chairperson of the Commission welcomes the Government's renewed commitment to dialogue and urges all Malagasy stakeholders, both civilian and military, to exercise calm and restraint," its statement read.

Neighboring South Africa also called upon "all parties to respect the democratic process and constitutional order".

The United Nations has reported at least 22 people killed during the initial days of protests that began September 25, some by security forces and others in violence perpetrated by criminal gangs and looters following the demonstrations.

Rajoelina disputed these figures, stating last week there were "12 confirmed deaths and all of these individuals were looters and vandals".

According to local media, emergency services reported an additional two deaths and 26 injuries on Saturday. The CAPSAT unit stated a soldier was also shot by gendarmes and died.