Andry Rajoelinas location remains unknown as protests and a military mutiny escalate

The president of Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina, has been flown out of the country on a French military aircraft amid escalating protests and a military mutiny, the RFI media outlet reported on Monday.

According to the outlet, the evacuation followed an agreement with French President Emmanuel Macron. Rajoelina's whereabouts remain unknown.

A statement from Rajoelina is expected at 19:00 local time (16:00 GMT), according to a post on the Madagascan presidency's official Facebook page.

The French Embassy in Madagascar has asserted that "no French military intervention is underway or planned in Madagascar." The embassy stressed that Paris fully respects the African state's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and any reports to the contrary are misinterpretations.

The youth-driven Gen Z Madagascar protest movement, which erupted on September 25, was triggered by mounting frustration over power blackouts and water shortages. In response, police have used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse demonstrators, amid reports of looting and attacks on commercial centers. Authorities have enforced a night curfew in the capital and blocked key roads.

Tensions escalated on Saturday when members of the elite CAPSAT military units joined the demonstrators, who issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding Rajoelina's removal, according to the Madagascar Tribune. In a statement on Sunday, Rajoelina described the events as an attempted power grab and denounced them as unconstitutional, urging "national forces" to safeguard the constitutional order.

Air France has temporarily halted flights between Paris and Antananarivo from October 11 to 13, citing security concerns.

Amid growing unrest at the end of September, Rajoelina dissolved his cabinet and appointed Army General Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo as prime minister. Rajoelina, a former DJ who first came to power in a 2009 coup, led a transitional government for nearly five years before winning the presidency in 2018. He secured reelection in 2023 after weeks of protests and opposition boycotts, promising economic growth, industrial development, expanded electrification, and improved access to basic services.

(RT.com)