Antananarivo, Madagascar
Reuters
—
Madagascar’s president has fled the African nation, the head of the opposition and different officials mentioned on Monday, the second time that younger protesters have toppled a authorities in weeks of worldwide Gen Z unrest.
Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, chief of the opposition in parliament, advised Reuters that President Andry Rajoelina left Madagascar on Sunday after items of the military defected and joined the protesters.
“We called the staff of the presidency, and they confirmed that he left the country,” Randrianasoloniaiko mentioned, including that Rajoelina’s present whereabouts have been unknown.
The president’s workplace, which had earlier mentioned Rajoelina would tackle the nation at 7 p.m. native time on Monday, didn’t reply to requests for remark.
A navy supply advised Reuters that Rajoelina flew out of the country on a French navy plane on Sunday. French radio RFI mentioned he had struck a take care of President Emmanuel Macron.
The supply mentioned {that a} French Army Casa plane landed in Madagascar’s Sainte Marie airport on Sunday. “Five minutes later, a helicopter arrived and transferred its passenger into the Casa,” the supply mentioned, including that Rajoelina was the passenger.
Demonstrations had erupted in the former French colony on September 25 over water and energy shortages however rapidly escalated into an rebellion over broader grievances, together with corruption, unhealthy governance and lack of primary providers.
The anger mirrors latest protests towards ruling elites in international locations together with Nepal, the place the prime minister was compelled to resign final month, and Morocco.
Rajoelina had appeared more and more remoted after shedding the help of CAPSAT, an elite unit which had helped him seize energy in a 2009 coup.
CAPSAT joined the protesters over the weekend, saying it refused to fireplace on them and escorting hundreds of demonstrators in the major sq. of the capital Antananarivo.
It then mentioned it was taking cost of the navy and appointed a brand new military chief, prompting Rajoelina to warn on Sunday of an try to seize energy in the island nation off the coast of southern Africa.
On Monday, a faction of the paramilitary gendarmerie supporting the protests additionally took management of the gendarmerie at a proper ceremony in the presence of senior authorities officials, a Reuters witness mentioned.
The president of the Senate – a spotlight of public anger throughout the protests – was relieved of his features, the Senate mentioned in an announcement, and Jean André Ndremanjary was appointed on a short lived foundation.
In the absence of a president, the chief of the Senate takes the publish till elections are held.
On Monday, hundreds of individuals gathered in a sq. in the capital, shouting “the president must quit now”.
Hotel employee Adrianarivony Fanomegantsoa, 22, advised Reuters his 300,000-ariary ($67) month-to-month wage was barely sufficient to cowl meals, explaining his causes for becoming a member of the protests.
“In 16 years the president and his government have done nothing except enrich themselves while the people stay poor. And the youth, the Gen Z, suffer the most,” he mentioned.
At least 22 individuals have been killed in clashes between protesters and the safety forces since September 25, in response to the UN.
Madagascar, the place the median age is youthful than 20, has a inhabitants of about 30 million – three-quarters of whom stay in poverty, with GDP per capita plunging 45% between independence in 1960 and 2020, in response to the World Bank.
While the country is finest recognized for producing most of the world’s vanilla, different exports together with nickel, cobalt, textiles and shrimp are additionally very important to international earnings and employment.