Madagascar President Rajoelina Defies Mass Protests; Refuses to Resign Amid Unrest

Antananarivo, Madagascar — President Andry Rajoelina is under mounting pressure as widespread protests over chronic power and water outages evolved into a broader anti-government movement. Despite calls for his resignation and claims of attempted coups, Rajoelina has refused to step down, saying he is “on a mission to find solutions” while sheltering in a safe location.

Since September 25, multiple alleged assassination attempts and mutinous army units backing the protests have escalated the political crisis. Rajoelina addressed the nation in his first public speech in days, denying that he’s fleeing the country. He called for constitutional respect and insisted he remains in Madagascar, managing state affairs.

Protestors, mostly young people, surged into the streets in Antananarivo and other cities, rallying against not only the utility shortages but also alleged government corruption and abuse of power. Among the dissenters are soldiers from the CAPSAT unit who refused orders to fire on protesters, and members of the gendarmerie admitting to “faults and excesses” in responding to the unrest.

Official reports say at least 22 people have died during the unrest; the government disputes this, claiming 12 deaths were from looting and vandalism. In a bid to alleviate tensions, Rajoelina fired his entire government and accepted the Senate’s decision to remove its president, Richard Ravalomanana.

Regional bodies have taken notice. The African Union’s Security Council has called for all armed units to respect constitutional duties and to stay out of political meddling. Meanwhile, speculation that Rajoelina fled aboard a French military plane was denied by France, and his government maintains he is still in Madagascar.