An elite military unit in Madagascar has announced that it has taken control of the government, shortly after the country’s National Assembly voted to impeach President Andry Rajoelina for alleged desertion of duty.
Colonel Michael Randrianirina, commander of the CAPSAT (Administrative and Technical Personnel Support Corps), told AFP that his unit had assumed power and would oversee the formation of a transitional governing committee made up of officers from the army, gendarmerie, and national police.
“We have taken power,” Randrianirina declared in a statement read at a government building in the capital, Antananarivo.
“A committee representing the armed forces will now carry out the duties of the presidency. In the coming days, a civilian government will also be constituted.”
The announcement came just minutes after the National Assembly voted overwhelmingly — 130 votes in favour, well above the required two-thirds majority in the 163-member chamber — to remove Rajoelina from office.
The presidency swiftly dismissed the impeachment as “devoid of any legal basis,” noting that Rajoelina had earlier dissolved the assembly by decree in an apparent attempt to halt the proceedings. The final decision now rests with the High Constitutional Court, which must validate the vote.
Rajoelina, 51, a former mayor of Antananarivo who first came to power after a 2009 coup led by the same CAPSAT unit, has reportedly gone into hiding. He claimed late Monday to be in a “safe location” after what he described as attempts on his life.
Weeks of anti-government protests, which began on September 25, have rocked the Indian Ocean nation. The crisis escalated dramatically over the weekend when mutinous soldiers and elements of the security forces — including CAPSAT — joined demonstrators in demanding Rajoelina’s resignation.
As uncertainty deepens, the international community is watching closely, fearing that Madagascar may once again descend into political turmoil reminiscent of its past coups and contested transitions.
About the Author
