By Ali Elias
Antananarivo, Madagascar — In a dramatic turn of events, Madagascar’s elite military unit, the Personnel Administration and Technical and Administrative Services Corps (CAPSAT), has seized power, ousting President Andry Rajoelina in what is being described as a “corrective intervention” to restore stability.
The country’s constitutional court has named CAPSAT commander, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, as the new leader. But the president’s office insists that Rajoelina remains in charge, rejecting the declaration as “unconstitutional and void.”
Lawmakers had earlier voted to impeach President Rajoelina — a move he dismissed as “null and void.” His whereabouts remain unclear. While some reports suggest he may have fled the country aboard a French military plane, the embattled president said he was in a “safe place” after what he described as an attempt on his life.
“It’s not true, we have no plan to touch a single hair on the president’s head,” Colonel Randrianirina told the BBC in an exclusive interview hours before taking power. “Who are we to do that? Soldiers are not trained to kill a president — that’s the job of mercenaries, not us. We’re here to protect the people and the country.”
Despite his assurance, the events that unfolded soon after suggest the military had already been preparing to move against the president, who has faced mounting opposition and street protests in recent weeks.
Power Shift and Political Unrest
Speaking to the BBC shortly before the coup, Randrianirina claimed Rajoelina was no longer in Madagascar.
“In my opinion, he made the speech outside the territory,” he said. “I don’t think that this speech exists in Madagascar, it doesn’t exist. We don’t give it any consideration. We do not recognise his speech, that’s it.”
At the time, the colonel described the situation in Madagascar as one of “total chaos.” Asked who he reported to, Randrianirina replied:
“We have a Malagasy Chief of Staff of the Army who was just appointed two or three days ago. And there’s also the Minister of the Armed Forces, who’s still there and still working… We have both of them as leaders.”
But hours later, his unit moved decisively, announcing it had taken control of all armed forces — a key step toward assuming power.
CAPSAT: The Unit That Makes and Breaks Presidents
The CAPSAT camp, strategically located near the capital Antananarivo, is one of Madagascar’s most influential military institutions. Though primarily an administrative and technical corps rather than a frontline combat unit, its size, resources, and proximity to the seat of power have made it a decisive player in the country’s turbulent politics.
This is not the first time CAPSAT has changed the course of Madagascar’s history. In 2009, its mutiny played a pivotal role in toppling then-President Marc Ravalomanana — paving the way for a young Andry Rajoelina, then the mayor of Antananarivo, to assume power.
Now, history appears to have come full circle. CAPSAT has once again risen — this time against Rajoelina himself — after weeks of protests and allegations of government repression.
According to reports, the tide turned on Saturday when CAPSAT soldiers left their barracks to join youth-led demonstrators demanding Rajoelina’s resignation. Witnesses said troops escorted protesters on foot, while others drove military vehicles into the city with crowds cheering and hanging from their trucks.
The paramilitary gendarmes — long considered the backbone of Rajoelina’s security apparatus — engaged in fierce clashes with CAPSAT troops near the camp. But by Sunday, the elite unit announced victory, claiming control of all armed forces.
Institutions Suspended, Elections Promised
Following the takeover, CAPSAT announced the suspension of key democratic institutions, promising to organise elections within two years.
Colonel Randrianirina, now backed by the constitutional court, has positioned himself as the interim leader, pledging to restore order and “return power to the people.”
For many in Madagascar, however, the developments evoke painful memories of past coups and political instability. The Indian Ocean island nation, one of Africa’s poorest, has struggled for decades with cyclical power struggles between politicians and the military.
As uncertainty deepens, the international community is watching closely. Analysts warn that the latest coup could derail fragile democratic gains and trigger a new wave of unrest in the country. Read the original story on BBC