French President Emmanuel Macron expressed serious concern about the situation in Madagascar, who has been plagued by protests for several weeks and where President Andra Rajoelina has allegedly left. In the meantime, he announced that he was in a safe, unspecified place. Macron according to AFP refused to confirm the media coverage that Rajoelina had escaped from the country by a French military plane.
- Madagascar is experiencing extensive protests against the government of President Rajoelina.
- President Rajoelina left the country, announced the stay in a safe place.
- French President Macron expressed concern about the situation in Madagascar.
- Military troops passed to the side of the demonstrators and declared control.
- The protests have claimed at least 22 victims and call for a change of government.
The island states were shaken by protests in which tens of thousands of young people were involved. Dissatisfied citizens, through demonstrations, require the restoration of water and electricity supplies. Dissatisfaction with the education system, high unemployment and poverty contributed to the tense situation.
The French radio station RFI claims that Rajoelina flew out of Madagascar on Sunday – based on an agreement with Macron. Madagascar media, in turn, reported that also former Prime Minister Christian Ntsay and businessman Mama Ravatomang – nearby allies of the President – flew on Saturday evening a private plane on Mauritius.
“I will not confirm anything today. I just want to express our great concern,” He told Macron to journalists in Egypt, where he attended a peace summit on the Gaza Strip. The constitutional order must be preserved on Madagascar, he added.
Demonstrators went to the streets of the capital Antananarivo on Monday. Participants of protests led mainly by young people inspired by recent demonstrations in Kenya and Nepal, demand government resignation led by Madagascar President and the organization of new elections.
The leader of the Madagascar opposition Sitena Randrianasoloniaiko, a military source and a foreign diplomat according to Reuters said they said that Rajoelina left Madagascar on Sunday after the armies units deserted and joined the demonstrators. Randrianasoloniaiko said that this information was also confirmed by the staff of the presidential office.
Rajoelina on Monday in a live broadcast on Facebook reported that moved to a “safe place” that he was supposedly forced to seek to protect his life.
“From September 25, there has been attempts to assassinate me and coup attempts. A group of soldiers and politicians planned my murder,” said the 51-year-old president in a twice as defined speech. According to AFP, he did not reveal his location, However, he called on compliance with the Constitution to resolve the deepening crisis.
Initially, peaceful protests have already claimed at least 22 victims. The rebel military troops declared that they had taken control of the land, air and naval forces of the country.
