Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina’s office said yesterday an attempt to seize state power illegally was underway, a day after troops from an army unit sided with anti-government protesters.
‘There is an attempt to seize power at this time in the territory of the republic, in complete violation of the constitution and democratic principles,’ a presidential statement said yesterday.
In a video statement on Saturday, troops from the Army Personnel Administration Center (CAPSAT), a military unit instrumental in Rajoelina’s rise to power through a 2009 coup, declared its support for the anti-government protests that began last month.
‘This country is facing a collapse of basic services, security forces must not follow blindly unlawful orders,’ they said.
Today, CAPSAT officers, in a video message, said that they will take control of the armed forces, saying: ‘From now on, all orders of the Malagasy army – whether land, air or the navy – will originate from CAPSAT headquarters.’