An elite military unit in Madagascar has seized control of the government, just hours after the National Assembly impeached President Andry Rajoelina on charges of desertion of duty.
Colonel Michael Randrianirina, head of the CAPSAT military unit, announced the takeover Tuesday in the capital, Antananarivo, declaring that a transitional military-led committee would assume presidential functions and form a civilian government in the coming days.
The dramatic development came moments after parliament voted to impeach Rajoelina, with 130 lawmakers in favour comfortably surpassing the required two-thirds threshold in the 163-member chamber.
The impeachment followed weeks of mass protests, accusations of presidential abandonment, and growing frustration over alleged corruption and authoritarianism.
In response, Rajoelina had attempted to block the impeachment by dissolving parliament earlier in the day a move dismissed by lawmakers as unconstitutional.
The High Constitutional Court must still validate the impeachment for it to be legally binding.
President Rajoelina, 51, reportedly went into hiding after claiming there had been multiple attempts on his life.
In a statement released Monday night, he said he was in a “safe space,” but did not disclose his location.
CAPSAT, which played a central role in the 2009 coup that first brought Rajoelina to power, stated it had lost confidence in the civilian leadership.
The unit declared it would oversee the transition and restore public order.
“Perhaps in time, it will include senior civilian advisers,” Col. Randrianirina said. “At the same time, after a few days, we will set up a civilian government.”
The crisis began on September 25, when widespread demonstrations erupted across Madagascar.
The situation escalated over the weekend as mutinous soldiers and security forces, including CAPSAT, joined protesters demanding the president’s resignation.
On Tuesday, thousands took to the streets again, chanting national songs and honoring victims of previous clashes with security forces.
The takeover has raised concerns in the international community, particularly given Madagascar’s fragile democratic history and previous episodes of military intervention.
Global and regional bodies including the African Union and United Nations are expected to respond to the unfolding political turmoil.
As of Tuesday night, no foreign government had officially recognised the military-led committee or commented on the impeachment’s legality.
