Elite Capsat unit that played a major role in Andry Rajoelina’s rise to presidency joined gen Z protests against corruption
Madagascar’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 following a deal with President Emmanuel Macron. It added that he may have headed for Dubai.
He had been due to speak to the nation at 7pm (1600 GMT), according to a statement from the presidency on Facebook.
Rajoelina, 51, was first president from 2009 to 2014 before returning to power in 2023. He was increasingly isolated after losing the support of a key army unit that joined thousands of youths activists known as “Gen Z Madagascar” to protest against corruption and poverty. The movement had earlier turned down an invitation to meet with him for dialogue and demanded his resignation.
