Description: President Andry Rajoelina announced to the Malagasy and international public that a violent and illegal attempt has been set in motion to topple the country’s government supported by the military. The announcement arrived after the special military unit known as CAPSAT, the same unit which enabled Rajoelina to come to power in 2009, joined the Gen Z Mada movement in their anti – government protests. Madagascar’s Minister of the Armed Forces, Manantsoa Deramasinjaka, appointed General Demosthene Pikulas as the head of CAPSAT as the personnel shift raised further concerns of a military led coup in the country. The President previously attempted to assuage the protesters by dissolving its government, calling for negotiations with the protest movement and appointing General Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo as the country’s Prime Minister. Zafisambo called on the protesters, the military and all involved stakeholders that the country’s government is prepared to listen to their demands and engage in a dialogue in order to resolve the ongoing crisis.
Impact: Madagascar’s imploding political and civil crisis enters critical stages of protraction with the military joining the anti – government protests. Scenarios such as the present one have unfolded in the past where the country’s military led the government reconstruction and asserted itself as the leading and dominating force in civilian – led protests. The crisis fuels instability and uncertainty as the military’s engagement in the protests has been polarized with some of the protesters welcoming it while others raising concerns over further escalation. Rajoelina has continued to enforce dialogue and refuses to step down, which could only escalate tensions as the civilian led movement is now morphed with the military as an armed faction of the anti – government movement. The situation remains extremely volatile and unstable and spells a period of long political and socio – economic transition for the economically ailing country.