Events
On the morning of 12 October 2025, Andry Rajoelina announced an attempt to seize power from him by the CAPSAT units who joined protesters the previous day. The alert was first raised after a few military personnel were seen leaving the barracks to join the protesters while Prime Minister and Army Chief Ruphin Zafisambo urged calm. [10] A CAPSAT general said one of its soldiers had been shot dead by the gendarmerie during the protests. [11] CAPSAT declared it took control over the armed forces. [12] After CAPSAT's announcement, mutinying soldiers were seen escorting youth protesters to May 13 Square in Antananarivo, where most protests were taking place. [2]
The CAPSAT unit announced the appointment of General Demosthene Pikulas as the new chief of staff of the Malagasy Armed Forces, [13] which was accepted by Armed Forces Minister Manantsoa Deramasinjaka Rakotoarivelo. General Richard Ravalomanana, a close ally of Rajoelina, was removed as president of the Senate, potentially raising the prospects of Rajoelina's own resignation. [2] A CAPSAT commander, Col. Michael Randrianirina, denied that a coup had taken place, [1] saying that they had only "answered the people's calls". [14] After his appointment, Pikulas said he refused to "discuss politics within a military facility" when asked about demands for Rajoelina's resignation. [11] On 13 October, a unit of the National Gendarmerie that supported the anti-government protests also seized control of the entire gendarmerie at a formal ceremony in the presence of senior government officials. [15]
On 12 October, former prime minister Christian Ntsay and one of Rajoelina's advisers, Mamy Ravatomanga, arrived in Mauritius aboard a private flight, [14] with the Mauritian government saying that it was "not satisfied" at the arrival. [16] A government spokesperson said Rajoelina is still in the country managing national affairs. [17] Rajoelina was scheduled to address the nation on the evening of 13 October, however, Reuters stated that Rajoelina had left the country on a French military aircraft departing from Sainte Marie Airport in northeastern Madagascar on 12 October after he had struck an agreement with French President Emmanuel Macron to leave the country. However, when he was asked by journalists regarding the situation in Madagascar, Macron, who was attending a summit in Egypt refused to comment on whether Rajoelina had been evacuated by France. [18]
On 13 October, Rajoelina made a video announcement from the official Facebook page of the Malagasy presidency [16] that he had been evacuated to an undisclosed safe place after an assassination attempt against him by "a group of military personnel and politicians". He urged respect for the constitution, saying that he was "on a mission to find solutions". [19] The address was made after his scheduled message was delayed twice following attempts by the military to seize the state broadcaster. Rajoelina also issued a decree granting pardons to eight people, including French-Malagasy dual national Paul Maillot Rafanoharana, who was sentenced in 2021 to 20 years' imprisonment for a previous coup attempt. [20] The opposition Tiako i Madagasikara party said it would file impeachment proceedings against Rajoelina for "abandonment of post". [21]
On 14 October, Rajoelina issued a decree dissolving the National Assembly that was scheduled to launch impeachment measures against him following consultations with the presidents of the assembly and Senate. [22] This would have allowed for elections to be held in 60 days. [23] However, opposition leader Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko said the decree was "not legally valid" and insisted that Rajoelina had failed to consult the assembly's president, Justin Tokely. [24] Despite Rajoelina's orders, the National Assembly proceeded to impeach him with 130 votes in favor and one blank vote. At the same time, protests were held in Antananarivo denouncing Rajoelina as a French stooge over his dual citizenship and support from Paris. Several protesters carried Malagasy flags and the Straw Hat Pirates' Jolly Roger flag from the manga series One Piece . [25] Col. Randrianirina then announced that the military would form a council composed of officers from the army and the gendarmerie, while a prime minister would be appointed to "quickly" form a civilian government after the army seized the Iavoloha Palace. [26]
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