Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina on Monday appointed Gen. Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo as prime minister to address protests led by Gen Z Mada and prevent a coup. Photo by Henitsoa Rafalia/EPA
Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina appointed Gen. Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo as the island nation's prime minister to address protests mostly led by young adults.
Rajoelina recently aired his concerns about a potential coup attempt, and Monday appointed Zafisambo as prime minister to quell anti-government protests, according to Al Jazeera.
The military general's appointment also comes a week after the Madagascar government's dissolution amid protests by the youth-led movement called Gen Z Mada in the island nation situated off Africa's southeastern coast.
Local police fired tear gas Monday into crowds of protesters in the nation's capital of Antananarivo and have confronted protesters in Toliara and Antsiranana aka Diego Suaraz, Al Jazeera reported.
