ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — A significant escalation in Madagascar's political crisis occurred on Saturday when groups of soldiers joined thousands of anti-government protesters in the capital, Antananarivo, publicly vowing to refuse any orders to fire upon the demonstrators.The soldiers, primarily from the elite CAPSAT unit, drove into the heart of the protest, the symbolic Place du 13 Mai, to cheers and flag-waving from the vast crowds. This dramatic intervention marks a critical shift in the security landscape and significantly ratchets up pressure on President Andry Rajoelina, whose government has been struggling to contain weeks of youth-led unrest.
A Call to 'Refuse Orders to Shoot'
Before leaving their barracks in the Soanierana district, a leader of the CAPSAT soldiers, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, released a video urging other security forces to stand down.
"Let us join forces, military, gendarmes and police, and refuse to be paid to shoot our friends, our brothers and our sisters," the soldier stated in the video. The message called on troops to "refuse orders to shoot your friends" and to "Point your weapons at those who order you to fire on your comrades-in-arms."
The military's move came after police had attempted to disperse the large gathering with stun grenades and tear gas. Protesters, who have been out on the streets since September 25 over initial grievances of power and water shortages, welcomed the soldiers, viewing them as a crucial source of protection against what the United Nations has described as a violent crackdown. The UN has reported at least 22 fatalities in the unrest so far.
Political Volatility and Prime Minister's Plea
The intervention by the CAPSAT unit carries historical weight; the same military base led a mutiny in 2009 that helped bring Rajoelina to power. The president had attempted to quell the unrest last week by sacking his government and appointing an army general as the new Prime Minister.
Following Saturday’s events, Prime Minister Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo appeared on state television to call for calm and dialogue. He stated the government was "fully ready to listen and engage in dialogue with all factions—youth, unions or the military."
The youth-led movement, however, has rejected previous offers for talks, demanding Rajoelina's resignation and a complete overhaul of the political system. The joining of military elements on Saturday is a major challenge to the government's authority and signals a deepening fracture within state institutions over the handling of the crisis.
The situation remains highly volatile, with reports of shots being fired in the capital and an urgent advisory from the U.S. Embassy for citizens to shelter-in-place amid reports of gunfire exchanges between gendarmerie and military factions.
Protesters in northern Madagascar join movement against Rajoelina government | AFP gives visual context to the ongoing political turmoil in Madagascar, which led to soldiers joining the demonstrators in the capital.
