Suche
Mein Konto
President Rajoelina safe: chaos and protests in Madagascar
Madagascar's President Rajoelina flees after attempted murder, demands respect for constitution. Protests and unrest in Antananarivo.
President Rajoelina safe: chaos and protests in Madagascar
In Madagascar, the mood is simmering. President Andry Rajoelina announced in a video address on October 13, 2025 that he had left his country due to security concerns. According to him, he was forced to go to a “safe place” to protect his life. The statement was the first since the worrying coalition of military officers and demonstrators protesting against his government. Rajoelina made the remarks during a 26-minute speech distributed on social media, calling on citizens to respect the Constitution ( linfo.re ).
The situation in the capital Antananarivo is tense. Despite his absence, Rajoelina firmly rejected calls for his resignation, pointing out that the only solution lies in respecting the constitution. He also warned of possible international funding shortages if political instability continues - a scenario that reminds citizens of the crises of 2009 and has caused great concern at the international level. Emmanuel Macron expressed concern about the situation in Madagascar, but would not confirm that Rajoelina had boarded a French military plane ( jeuneafrique.com ).
Protests and violent clashes
The protests, which were initially aimed at water and power outages, have now evolved into broader opposition to Rajoelina. The demonstrators are not alone; tens of thousands gathered in the capital and expressed joy at the military support. A worrying UN report says at least 22 people have been killed and over 100 injured since the violent clashes that followed the resignation of controversial Senate President Richard Ravalomanana. Looting and rioting broke out in the streets of Antananarivo as security forces fired rubber bullets and, in some cases, live ammunition against protesters ( 20min.ch ).
Rajoelina has since dissolved the government, but Prime Minister Christian Ntsay and other cabinet members remain in office on an interim basis. He admits that he has had to make difficult decisions in the face of threats from military alliances and protests. His video address appears to document an attempt to regain control of the situation rather than an admission of weakness.
Overall, the situation in Madagascar is extremely tense. The president's request for respect for the constitution becomes a thorny challenge for his regime at a time of massive protests and a growing threat to his own security. Whether Rajoelina will stay in his place or not still seems uncertain.