Madagascar’s embattled leader Andry Rajoelina rejected resignation demands in a Facebook address, saying there were “attempts on my life and coup attempts” and that he moved to a “safe place” amid a mutiny by parts of the security forces and swelling Gen Z-led protests over power and water cuts.

Rajoelina’s First Address Since Mutiny

In his first public remarks after the weekend defections, Rajoelina said a group of “military personnel and politicians planned to assassinate me,” adding, “I was forced to find a safe place to protect my life,” without disclosing his location. He urged respect for the constitution and framed the turmoil as an illegal bid to oust him.

The address followed reports about his whereabouts and a twice-delayed state broadcast as troops moved on the national broadcaster. “I am on a mission to find solutions,” he said in the video.

Security Forces Split And Toll Disputed

Soldiers from the influential CAPSAT unit and elements of the gendarmerie joined crowds in Antananarivo, declaring they would “refuse orders to shoot” and acknowledging “faults and excesses” during earlier crackdowns. The youth-driven protests, which began on September 25 over service failures, have broadened into anti-government rallies.

The United Nations says at least 22 people were killed in the initial days; Rajoelina contests the figure. Air travel and public order measures have tightened as demonstrations continue in the capital.

Political Maneuvers And Regional Pressure

Seeking to ease tensions, authorities announced the removal of Senate president Richard Ravalomanana after consultations among senators. Rajoelina also signed pardons for eight individuals, including French-Malagasy dual national Paul Maillot Rafanoharana, jailed in 2021 over an attempted coup plot.

Regional and international actors urged restraint as the crisis deepened; analysts say the split within the armed forces is the sharpest since Rajoelina’s earlier rise to power.