What’s the president saying? President Andry Rajoelina has not yet commented on the announcement of the military take over.
His exact whereabouts are unknown but he is widely believed to have left the country.
Earlier Rajoelina had tried to dissolve the national assembly – the lower house of parliament – before it voted to impeach him. He put that announcement on X, external.
His next post, which was shared as parliament was getting ready to vote, external was about the energy crisis.
“In order to increase energy production in Madagascar and address the electricity difficulties faced by our fellow citizens, I am currently overseeing the reception of new production units. These facilities will enhance the national energy capacity,” he wrote.
He then said: “I’m following up with several official visits planned to friendly countries, members of [the regional body] Sadc, before returning home to personally oversee the commissioning of these facilities.”
Suspension of court raises questions about impeachment process
The elite military unit’s announcement that it had suspended the activities of the Constitutional Court is significant.
The court was supposed to have approved the decision of the National Assembly – the lower house of parliament – to impeach Rajoelina, for it to take effect.
Military promises elections within two years
“We will form a government and reach consensus”, Col Michael Randrianirina has told reporters in Madagascar after announcing that his elite unit, CAPSAT, had seized power.
Asked if they would hold elections, he replied, “of course”. This will happen within the next “18 months to two years”, he said.
The CAPSAT chief said Gen Z Mada protesters would be part of the changes because “the movement was created in the streets so we have to respect their demands”.
He said he and his fellow officers had no choice but to unseat the current regime.
“There is no president, there is no government… nothing here works.”
Military unit that helped Rajoelina gain power turns on him
CAPSAT, the military unit which says it has ousted President Rajoelina, was instrumental in him becoming president in the first place.
In 2009, CAPSAT supported Rajoelina when he seized power from then-President Marc Ravalomanana. Now, it has turned on him following mass protests against his rule.
Military suspends key democratic institutions
The head of the elite unit that says it has seized power in Madagascar has announced that it would be suspending all constitutional institutions except the lower house of parliament, which earlier voted to impeach the president.
This includes the senate, the constitutional court and the electoral commission, the Reuters news agency reports.
How did Madagascar get here?
Here’s a quick recap on the events of the last few weeks:
- Just over two weeks ago, a youth-led movement began protesting against chronic water and power cuts across the country
- The demonstrations soon escalated, with protesters expressing anger over issues like the cost of living, and calling on President Andry Rajoelina to quit
- On Saturday, troops from a powerful army unit known as CAPSAT unexpectedly left their barracks to join protesters
- Two days later, reports emerged that Rajoelina had been evacuated by the French military and may have headed for Dubai. However, there has been no official confirmation of this
- On Monday night Rajoelina said he was sheltering in a “safe place” after an alleged attempt on his life
- Hours before lawmakers began a vote to impeach Rajoelina for abandoning his post, he announced he was dissolving the national assembly
- The vote continued regardless, with lawmakers voting overwhelmingly to impeach the president
- CAPSAT then announced it was taking over
Elite military unit outlines next steps
After announcing that his elite unit, CAPSAT, had taken power, Col Michael Randrianirina has been speaking more about what happens next.
He said that CAPSAT will create a committee with officers from the army, gendarmerie and national police.
“Perhaps in time it will include senior civilian advisers. It is this committee that will carry out the work of the presidency,” Col Randrianirina is quoted by the AFP news agency as saying.
“At the same time, after a few days, we will set up a civilian government.”
‘We have taken power,’ head of elite military unit says
We are getting more details on what appears to be a military takeover.
Colonel Michael Randrianirina, head of the elite CAPSAT military unit, read a statement on national radio saying: “We have taken the power.”
CAPSAT defied the president’s authority at the weekend, unexpectedly joining forces with the protesters who have been demanding Rajoelina resign.
Rajoelina’s own party voted for him to go
Members of Rajoelina’s party, IRMAR, were present at the impeachment vote in the national assembly – and even they voted overwhelmingly against him, increasing the pressure on him to step down.
Military says it is seizing power – reports
Following the vote to impeach Rajoelina, elite military unit CAPSAT says it is taking power, the Reuters news agency reports.
AFP reports that an “army colonel” says the military has taken charge.
MPs vote to impeach Rajoelina
MPs in Madagascar’s national assembly have voted to impeach President Andry Rajoelina by 130 yes votes to one blank ballot.
Now, the High Constitutional Court has to validate the vote.
‘Null and void’ – Rajoelina rejects impeachment vote
President Rajoelina has condemned the impeachment vote currently taking place.
He notes that the meeting has taken place despite him dissolving the national assembly and says the vote is unconstitutional.
Whatever the outcome of the meeting, it will be “deemed null and void”, Rajoelina says in a statement posted on Facebook.
Cheers and whistles as MPs cast their votes on impeachment
MPs in Madagascar appear animated as they decide the president’s future.
Each of them is speaking briefly before placing their vote in a ballot box.
If enough vote in favour, the next step will be for the High Constitutional Court to validate it.
As the numbers rachet up, loud cheers are ringing out.
Prior to the vote, 110 out of 163 MPs had signed a letter to move forward to a vote on impeaching President Andry Rajoelina.
Impeachment vote taking place in Madagascar
Lawmakers in Madagascar’s national assembly are voting on whether to impeach President Andry Rajoelina.
This is despite the fact that Rajoelina announced earlier that he had dissolved the national assembly, which is the lower house of parliament.
Macron ‘greatly worried’ by Madagascar crisis
The president of France, Emmanuel Macron, has called the situation in Madagascar “greatly worrying” but refused to comment on reports that the French military had airlifted the island’s president out of the country on Sunday.
France has been the object of some protesters’ ire – banners saying “Rajoelina and Macron out” have been seen at recent gatherings.
Opposition wants to strip Rajoelina of presidency
President Rajoelina’s order to dissolve the national assembly came as parliamentarians were gathering ahead of an expected vote to strip him of the presidency for desertion of duty, AFP news agency reports.
Ex-President and opposition leader Marc Ravalomanana said that the national assembly – the lower house of parliament – had called an extraordinary session to “note the absence of power in Madagascar”, AFP added.
“There is a power vacuum. The solution is not revenge, neither confusion, but a peaceful, inclusive and responsible transition,” Ravalomanana is quoted as saying.
He lost power to Rajoelina following a coup in 2009.
Workers demand utility company boss resign
Away from the political drama in the capital, employees of state-owned utility company, Jirama, are demanding their CEO resign.
Workers in city of Toliana filmed themselves reading the statement, dressed in orange high-vis jackets.
Jirama played a key role in the political crisis facing President Rajoelina – the protesters began railing against him because they were unhappy with daily, hours-long water and power cuts.
The demonstrations then escalated to express anger over issues such as corruption and the high cost of living, leading to calls for his resignation.
Summary
- An elite military unit in Madagascar says it has taken power, ousting the country’s embattled President Andry Rajoelina
- The CAPSAT unit has suspended key democratic institutions, including the constitutional court and the electoral commission, but has promised elections within two years
- Lawmakers earlier voted to impeach Rajoelina, which he rejected as “null and void”
- His whereabouts are unclear – there are reports he has fled the country on a French military plane and he said he was sheltering from a “safe place” after an attempt on his life
- Madagascar has been rocked by weeks of protests – here’s why young people have been demonstrating against Rajoelina’s rule
SOURCE: BBC NEWS
