31 h. ago Former Madagascar president Andry Rajoelina stripped of citizenship after military takeover

Former Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina has been stripped of his citizenship after a military takeover ousted him over a week ago

Events

1 week ago ‘Gen Z gave us the victory’: how young protesters toppled Madagascar’s leader

There is jubilation in Place du 13 Mai in the capital but concern about army’s intentions after military takeoverAs the sun set on Place du 13 Mai in Madagascar’s capital, Antananarivo, thousands of people danced, waved and cheered to pulsating rap and reggae beats and rousing speeches.When young people started protesting on 25 September, first against water and power cuts, then demanding a complete overhaul of the political system, military police stopped them from reaching the square. The site has been a symbol of democracy and the focal point of anti-government protests on the Indian Ocean island since 40 student demonstrators were killed there by security forces in May 1972. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Madagascar's coup leader is set to be sworn in as president after military takeover

An army colonel who seized power in a military coup is set to be sworn in as Madagascar’s new leader in a lightning-fast power grab that ousted the president and sent him fleeing from the country into hiding

Politics

1 week ago Photos of a colonel announcing military takeover in Madagascar after president flees

A colonel from an elite military unit, Michael Randrianirina, announced that the armed forces are taking control of Madagascar, after weeks of youth-led protests over poverty, power outages and a lack of opportunities. Randrianirina made the statement after parliament voted to impeach President Andry Rajoelina, who fled.

Events

2 w. ago Madagascar president flees after losing support of key army unit

Elite Capsat unit that played a major role in Andry Rajoelina’s rise to presidency joined gen Z protests against corruptionMadagascar’s president, Andry Rajoelina, is reported to have fled the country on a French military aircraft, hours before he was scheduled to address the people.French state radio RFI reported on Monday that the president, who also has French citizenship, had been flown out of the capital, Antananarivo, after a deal with President Emmanuel Macron. It added that he may have headed for Dubai. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Madagascar president says he fled country in fear for his life

Andry Rajoelina does not announce resignation in speech broadcast on social media after military rebellionMadagascar’s president, Andry Rajoelina, said he had fled the country in fear for his life after a military rebellion but did not announce his resignation in a speech broadcast on social media late on Monday from an undisclosed location.The 51-year-old has faced weeks of gen Z-led anti-government protests, which reached a pivotal point on Saturday when an elite military unit joined the protests and called for the president and other ministers to step down. That prompted Rajoelina to say that an illegal attempt to seize power was under way in the Indian Ocean island and leave the country. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Madagascar: Is there a coup and why has the president fled the country?

Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina has reportedly fled the country after an elite military group joined violent anti-government protests

Politics

2 w. ago Is there a coup in Madagascar? What to know as president flees country amid protests

Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina was due to give an address on national television after soldiers turned against the government in an apparent coup

Politics

3 w. ago ‘We are the last hope’: Gen Z Madagascar vows to fight on until president resigns

Protesting young people reject dissolution of government as insufficient and demand list of reforms Young protesters in Madagascar have said they will continue their fight until the president, Andry Rajoelina, resigns, rejecting his dissolution of the government on Monday as insufficient.Twenty-two people were killed and 100 injured at the demonstrations, according to the UN. The unrest broke out on 25 September when local councillors were arrested for protesting against water and electricity outages in the capital, Antananarivo. The youth-led protests quickly spread to other towns and cities, fuelled by social media and other “Gen Z protests in Indonesia and Nepal, where the government was toppled. Continue reading...

Politics