Madagascar's president flees country after military backs Gen Z protests
4 min read
Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina went into hiding and fled the country aboard a French military aircraft on Sunday, bringing a dramatic climax to weeks of deadly youth-led protests that evolved into a military coup against his government. Opposition lawmakers confirmed Monday that the 51-year-old president had departed Madagascar after losing the support of the same elite military unit that helped bring him to power 16 years ago.
The CAPSAT unit, which played a crucial role in the 2009 coup that first elevated Rajoelina to power, publicly declared its support for Gen Z protesters Saturday and announced it had assumed control of all Madagascar's armed forces. The military faction installed General Demosthene Pikulas as the new army chief during a ceremony Sunday attended by the defense minister, who gave his blessing to the appointment.
Military Defection Seals President's Fate
The turning point came when CAPSAT soldiers abandoned their barracks to join thousands of demonstrators at May 13 Square in the capital Antananarivo, effectively ending the government's ability to suppress the protests through force. Colonel Michael Randrianirina of CAPSAT told reporters his unit "answered the people's calls" but denied staging a coup, saying the Malagasy people should decide what happens next.[1][2][3][4]
French broadcaster RFI reported that President Emmanuel Macron authorized Rajoelina's evacuation, with a French military aircraft landing at Sainte Marie airport Sunday before transferring him to an unknown location, reportedly Dubai. The French government has maintained it will not intervene militarily in its former colony.[5][6][7][8][9]
Deadly Protests Transform Into Uprising
What began as demonstrations against chronic water and electricity shortages on September 25 rapidly escalated into the most significant challenge to Rajoelina's rule since his 2023 reelection. The United Nations reported at least 22 deaths and over 100 injuries during the unrest, though the government disputed these figures, claiming only 12 confirmed deaths.[1][2][3][4]
The protests, organized by a Facebook group called "Gen Z Madagascar" that gained over 100,000 followers, expanded beyond utility grievances to encompass broader frustrations with corruption, unemployment, and living costs in one of the world's poorest nations. Demonstrators adopted symbols from the Japanese manga "One Piece," mirroring youth movements that have toppled governments in countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.[2][3][5][6]
Despite Rajoelina's attempts to appease protesters by dismissing his entire government and appointing a new prime minister, the Gen Z movement rejected dialogue offers and continued demanding his resignation. Madagascar, where about 75% of the population lives below the poverty line and only one-third have access to electricity, has experienced multiple coups since independence from France in 1960.[3][7][1]
Reference sources:
[1](https://apnews.com/article/madagascar-protests-gen-z-rajoelina-e39ef11bd1f4a92f1f4b353900348219)[2](https://www.npr.org/2025/10/02/nx-s1-5558288/madagascar-morocco-gen-z-protests)[3](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd070pn4g07o)[4](https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/10/gen-z-protests-madagascar/)[5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Malagasy_protests)[6](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/13/madagascan-president-to-address-nation-as-protesters-call-for-new-rallies)[7](https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/madagascar-president-rajoelina-address-nation-monday-evening-2025-10-13/)[1](https://www.dw.com/en/madagascar-army-unit-joins-gen-z-uprising-against-president/a-74334916)[2](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/13/madagascan-president-to-address-nation-as-protesters-call-for-new-rallies)[3](https://www.breitbart.com/news/madagascar-president-to-make-a-speech-after-soldiers-turned-against-the-government-in-apparent-coup/)[4](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/12/madagascar-president-says-attempt-to-seize-power-illegally-under-way)[5](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3oKMg6OnSI)[6](https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/13/world/madagascar-president-leaves-country-gen-z-protests-intl)[7](https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cqxr3y3788pt)[8](https://nypost.com/2025/10/13/world-news/madagascar-president-to-make-a-speech-after-soldiers-turned-against-the-government-in-apparent-coup/)[9](https://apnews.com/article/madagascar-coup-rajoelina-soldiers-military-africa-b17e7f78a6b0d4abf82a4a19a7a77a05)