Announcement comes after country’s parliament impeaches president after weeks of anti-government protests
An elite military unit said it had taken power in Madagascar on Tuesday, after the country’s parliament impeached president Andry Rajoelina after weeks of anti-government protests.
Rajoelina, who said on Monday in a Facebook Live video that he had gone into hiding after attempts to kill him, had refused demands to step down, but the demonstrators won the backing of the influential Capsat unit at the weekend.
On Tuesday, the presidency posted a statement saying there had been an “attempted coup d’état”.
It continued: “The president of the republic remains fully in office and is ensuring the maintenance of constitutional order and national stability.”
