2 w. ago African Union suspends Madagascar as military leader set to be sworn in as president

Army assumed power after parliament voted to impeach Andry Rajoelina following widespread protestsMadagascar’s new military ruler will be sworn in as the country’s president on Friday, the military said on Wednesday, as the African Union suspended the island nation after a coup that ousted President Andry Rajoelina.The Indian Ocean nation has been plunged into its worst political upheaval in years after the elite Capsat army unit assumed power on Tuesday, moments after parliament voted to impeach Rajoelina, who appeared to have fled the country as street protests escalated. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. 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

3 w. ago Madagascar President is forced to flee his country 'over fears for his life' after weeks of Gen

Andry Rajoelina said he was sheltering in a 'safe space' in a speech which was broadcast on social media from an undisclosed location.

Politics

3 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

3 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

3 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 Schoolboy faces explosives charge after bomb squad called to residential street

Police, specialist forensics officers and an army bomb disposal unit were present at a home in Monkseaton this week - a schoolboy has been charged with possession of an explosive substance

Events

3 w. ago Madagascar’s president says illegal power grab by military is under way

Soldiers from elite Capsat unit have announced they are taking over after weeks of youth-led protestsMadagascar’s president said an “attempt to seize power illegally and by force” was under way, as an elite military unit that joined protesters on the streets on Saturday announced it was taking over the army.The Capsat unit’s intervention comes after weeks of youth-led protests, which started on 25 September against water and electricity shortages and expanded to calling for the resignation of the president, Andry Rajoelina, an end to corruption and radical overhaul of the political system. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Soldiers from elite Capsat unit join protests against Madagascar’s president

Demonstrators march alongside regiment, who earlier in the day said they would not fire on the crowdsThousands of protesters against Madagascar’s president were joined on the streets of the capital on Saturday afternoon by soldiers from an elite army unit, who earlier in the day said they would not fire on demonstrators.Protesters marched alongside soldiers from the Capsat unit, who drove armoured vehicles, some waving Madagascar flags, from their base in Soanierana in the south of Antananarivo. Continue reading...

Events