Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has fled the country amid growing unrest led by young protesters. Opposition leaders confirmed that Rajoelina left on Sunday after several army units joined demonstrations calling for his resignation.
According to a military source, Rajoelina was flown out of Madagascar on a French military plane. The source said a French Army Casa aircraft landed at Sainte Marie airport, where a helicopter brought Rajoelina to board the flight. Reports suggested that he might have struck a deal with French President Emmanuel Macron.
The Rajoelina flown out on French military plane report came as protests that began on September 25 intensified across the island nation. Initially triggered by water and power shortages, the demonstrations quickly evolved into a broader movement against corruption, poor governance, and economic hardship.
The situation mirrors other youth-led uprisings worldwide, including in Nepal and Morocco, where frustration with ruling elites has fueled political change.
Rajoelina had grown increasingly isolated over the weekend after losing the support of CAPSAT, an elite army unit that once helped him seize power in 2009. CAPSAT declared that it would no longer act against protesters and instead joined them in the capital, Antananarivo.
Adding to the turmoil, a faction of the gendarmerie also sided with protesters, taking control of its command structure. At least 22 people have been killed in clashes between demonstrators and security forces since the unrest began, according to the United Nations.
The Rajoelina flown out on French military plane development marked a turning point, leaving Madagascar without a sitting president. The Senate announced that its former president was removed and Jean André Ndremanjary was appointed temporarily. Under the constitution, the Senate leader assumes the presidency until new elections take place.
Madagascar, home to 30 million people—three-quarters of whom live in poverty—continues to face deep economic and political challenges. As protests persist, the country’s youth demand change, accusing leaders of enriching themselves while the population struggles.
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