Military appears on stage as Madagascar protesters demand Rajoelina’s resignation

Reuters. Military police officers appeared on stage outside Antananarivo’s city hall on Tuesday (October 14), as youth-led protests against President Andry Rajoelina continued to swell. One officer stood guard inside a military vehicle, rifle in hand, while others drove through crowds of demonstrators gathered in the square.

Their presence, and public remarks, have fuelled speculation about shifting allegiances within the armed forces, especially after elite unit CAPSAT declared support for the demonstrators over the weekend.

The protest, led largely by young residents, has intensified since late September, evolving from grievances over water and power shortages into broader demands for political reform. Demonstrators chanted slogans such as “Rajoelina resigns,” “change the system,” and “reject the dissolution of the National Assembly.”

Rajoelina said in a televised address on Monday that he had relocated for security reasons, citing a coup plot and threats to his life. Protesters dismissed the speech as propaganda and vowed to continue occupying the square until he steps down.