Wayne Lumbasi
Madagascar’s political crisis has deepened dramatically after President Andry Rajoelina warned of an attempted coup following the defection of several key military units.
The tension erupted when members of the Army Personnel and Services Administration Corps, known as CAPSAT, declared they would no longer take orders from the president. The unit, which played a decisive role in Rajoelina’s own rise to power during the 2009 crisis, announced that the chain of command would now run through their headquarters. In a bold move, CAPSAT officers named General Demosthene Pikulas as the new army chief, directly challenging the president’s authority.
Soon after, reports emerged that elements of the gendarmerie, Madagascar’s paramilitary police, had joined the rebellion. Armed soldiers were seen marching alongside anti-government protesters in the capital, Antananarivo, guarding them as they filled the city’s main square. The presence of uniformed troops among demonstrators has transformed what began as civil unrest into a confrontation between rival sections of the armed forces.
President Rajoelina described the events as an “illegal attempt to seize power” and urged loyal units to protect the nation’s institutions. However, his control over the military now appears uncertain. Some bases remain loyal to him, while others have openly defied presidential orders. The split has created fears of direct clashes between soldiers on opposing sides.
International concern is mounting as observers warn that the situation could spiral into violence if mediation fails. The African Union and United Nations have both called for calm and dialogue.
Madagascar has a long and troubled history of military involvement in politics. From the coups of 1972 and 2009 to smaller mutinies in the past decade, the army has repeatedly played a central role in power transitions.
The current standoff revives painful memories of those turbulent periods, leaving citizens anxious about the possibility of another military takeover in a country already struggling with poverty and instability.
RELATED
ARMY GENERAL APPOINTED MADAGASCAR PRIME MINISTER TO CALM GEN Z PROTESTS
GEN Z PROTESTS FORCES MADAGASCAR’S PRESIDENT TO DISSOLVE GOVNT.
