Madagascar’s political landscape has undergone a dramatic upheaval as President Andry Rajoelina has reportedly fled the country just hours before a planned national address. The leader’s departure came after he lost the crucial backing of the Capsat force, the same unit that helped bring him to power during a 2009 coup. The unit has since sided with a growing youth-led protest movement demanding Rajoelina’s resignation over issues of corruption and widespread poverty. The crisis escalated from weeks of demonstrations, which were initially sparked by chronic power and water shortages. With soldiers publicly refusing to follow orders and joining the protesters, Rajoelina’s authority collapsed. His exit marks a stunning reversal for the leader and plunges the Indian Ocean nation into a new period of uncertainty.
The Guardian