🔗 Share this article

Numerous demonstrators opposing Madagascar's head of state were accompanied on the streets of the capital city on Saturday by troops from an elite army division, who that morning stated they would not shoot at activists.

Proceeding Alongside Armored Vehicles

Protesters proceeded together with military personnel from the Capsat division, who drove heavy transports, some brandishing the country's banners, from their base in Soanierana in the south of Antananarivo.

Speaking to the Gathering

A Capsat leader, Lylison René de Rolland, then spoke to the cheering masses in front of the town hall in 13 May Square, which protesters had before been prevented from reaching. Capsat military personnel installed the current president, Andry Rajoelina, to power in a coup in 2009.

Raising Strain on the Leader

The military's participation increased strain on Rajoelina, who demonstrators have been insisting on stand down. The student-led rallies broke out on 25 September, at first over service disruptions. However, they quickly widened into calls for a total overhaul of the government system, with the gen Z activists not appeased by Rajoelina dismissing his cabinet last week.

Security Forces Actions

Earlier in the day, police used flashbangs and teargas to try to break up the activists. The newly named defense minister also called on military personnel to "remain calm", at a news conference on Saturday.

"We call on our colleagues who are against us to focus on communication," military minister Deramasinjaka Manantsoa Rakotoarivelo said. "Our nation's military continues to be a peacemaker and constitutes the country's ultimate protection."

Army Defiance

However, a Capsat leader joined by a significant number of military personnel called on other army divisions to "disobey commands to attack your allies", in a footage that was published on online platforms before they left their headquarters.

"We should unite, military, gendarmes and law enforcement, and decline compensation to shoot our allies, our colleagues and our sisters," he said, also appealing to soldiers at the airfield to "block all planes from taking off".

"Close the gates and wait for our directions," he said. "Disregard commands from your commanders. Point your weapons at those who instruct you to fire on your military brothers, because they will not look after our relatives if we perish."

President's Silence

No information has been published on the president's online profiles since Friday night, when he was photographed conferring with the heads of 10 of the country's colleges to talk about enhancing students' lives.

Protester Worries

An activist who joined the Saturday rallies stated she was apprehensive about the role of Capsat, due to their part in the 2009 seizure of power that propelled Rajoelina to leadership. She also criticised politicians who made quick statements to the gathering in front of the city hall as "self-serving individuals".

"This is the reason I'm not rejoicing at all, because all of those individuals gravitating around this 'development' are all dangerous," stated the demonstrator, who declined to give her name for concern for her safety.

Youth Perspective

A member of Gen Z Madagascar, a leaderless collective of young people that has helped to coordinate the demonstrations, also raised questions about what would occur subsequently. "We are very happy, but many developments are occurring [and] we wish to avoid another corrupted figure to take the power here, so we will employ all means to have the opportunity to select who to place in power," he said.