Madagascar’s President Rajoelina Reportedly Flees as Military Unit Joins Protesters

 

Antananarivo, Madagascar — October 13, 2025

Madagascar’s political crisis has taken a dramatic turn as reports emerge that President Andry Rajoelina

has fled the country following the defection of a key military unit amid mass anti-government protests.

Sources from Africanews, AP News, and The Guardian confirm that Rajoelina’s sudden departure came after days of escalating demonstrations led by young citizens under the banner “Gen Z Madagascar.” The movement has been protesting worsening living conditions, corruption, and persistent shortages of electricity and water in the island nation.

The crisis deepened over the weekend when members of the CAPSAT, an elite military unit, reportedly refused orders to suppress protesters and instead declared solidarity with the people’s demands for reform. Their defection effectively stripped Rajoelina of critical military backing.

Opposition leaders claim that the embattled president was evacuated on a French military aircraft on Sunday, though his current location remains unknown. Some reports suggest he may have sought temporary refuge in a neighboring country under an arrangement facilitated by France.

While there has been no official confirmation from the presidency, government sources say Rajoelina’s office initially denied that he had fled, promising that he would address the nation. However, no statement has been released as of press time.

Protesters have since gathered at key public squares in the capital, Antananarivo, celebrating what they describe as “the dawn of a new Madagascar.” Civil society leaders are calling for a peaceful transition and the formation of a unity government to restore stability.

Rajoelina, a former disc jockey turned politician, first rose to power in 2009 after leading a coup that ousted then-President Marc Ravalomanana. His rule has been marked by political unrest, economic hardship, and accusations of authoritarianism.

Analysts say his apparent flight underscores a loss of legitimacy and deep discontent among citizens and the military alike. “This is not just about one man, it’s a generational revolt against failed leadership,” said a political observer in Antananarivo.

As Madagascar awaits clarity on Rajoelina’s whereabouts and the next line of political action, international observers are urging calm and restraint from all sides to avoid further destabilization in the Indian Ocean nation.