Tijjani Usman MuhammadAn elite military unit in Madagascar has taken control of the government after parliament voted to impeach President Andry Rajoelina, following weeks of protests over power shortages and corruption.
The commander of the CAPSAT military unit, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, announced the suspension of the constitution and the creation of a governing committee made up of military and police officers. Crowds in the capital, Antananarivo, cheered as soldiers paraded through the streets.
The presidency condemned the move as “an attempted coup,” insisting that Rajoelina, reportedly outside the country, “remains fully in office.”
Parliament’s impeachment motion passed with 130 votes — surpassing the required two-thirds majority — and was later validated by the constitutional court, confirming the military’s authority.
Rajoelina, 51, said he was in a “safe place” to protect his life and refused to resign, vowing to find solutions to the political crisis.
International bodies, including the African Union, United Nations, and United States, have expressed concern, urging respect for constitutional order and peaceful resolution.
The CAPSAT unit, which played a key role in the 2009 coup that first brought Rajoelina to power, rejoined the streets’ protesters this week, signaling a dramatic shift in Madagascar’s fragile political landscape.
