Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina is set to address the nation on Monday evening amid growing political unrest and mounting calls for his resignation from protesters and a faction of the military.
The presidency announced that Rajoelina will deliver his speech at 7:00 p.m. (1600 GMT), following a weekend of escalating tension in the capital, Antananarivo.
On Saturday, Rajoelina accused certain groups of attempting to “seize power illegally” after the CAPSAT military unit — which played a key role in the 2009 coup that first brought him to power — declared it would “refuse orders to shoot” at demonstrators and instead joined the protests.
Thousands of people have continued to rally in the streets, demanding Rajoelina’s resignation. The protests, which began on September 25 over widespread power and water shortages, have evolved into a broader anti-government movement.
Despite rumours that the president had fled the country, government officials insisted over the weekend that he remains in Madagascar and is “in full control of national affairs.”
On Monday, hundreds of students returned to the streets, waving national flags and marching alongside soldiers, some of whom arrived in military vehicles. The protest movement, known as “Gen Z,” has called for another mass demonstration later in the day.
The United Nations reported that at least 22 people have been killed since the protests began — some by security forces, others amid looting and clashes. Rajoelina, however, disputes that figure, claiming there have been only “12 confirmed deaths,” whom he described as “looters and vandals.”
The president’s upcoming address is expected to outline his government’s response to the escalating unrest and the growing defiance within the military ranks.
