Sun Oct 12 15:56:08 UTC 2025: **Madagascar in Crisis: Elite Military Unit Joins Gen Z Protests Calling for President’s Resignation**
Antananarivo, Madagascar – Madagascar is facing a severe political crisis as an elite military unit, CAPSAT, which played a key role in installing President Andry Rajoelina in 2009, has joined forces with Gen Z protesters demanding his resignation. The presidency has condemned the events as “an attempt to seize power illegally and by force.”
The move comes after three weeks of escalating protests led by “Gen Z Madagascar,” a youth-led movement fueled by grievances over the rising cost of living, corruption, and perceived government inaction. On Saturday, Colonel Michael Randrianirina of CAPSAT announced that the unit has taken control of the armed forces, stating that all military orders would now originate from their headquarters. They have appointed General Demosthene Pikulas as the new head of the army, although the legitimacy of this appointment remains unclear.
President Rajoelina’s office released a statement urging unity and the defense of “constitutional order and national sovereignty.” The statement did not explicitly name those behind the alleged coup attempt.
The Gen Z Madagascar protests, inspired by similar movements globally, began on September 25th over issues such as water and electricity shortages. Their demands have since broadened to include Rajoelina’s resignation, the dismantling of the Senate, an end to special privileges for politically connected businesses, and an apology for the violence that has reportedly claimed the lives of at least 22 people.
Echoing youth-led movements in countries like Kenya, Nepal, and Bangladesh, the protesters are calling for radical change to address systemic corruption, inequality, and failures in basic services. They are using online platforms like TikTok and Discord to organize and spread their message, symbolized by a modified pirate skull and crossbones logo from the Japanese comic series *One Piece*.
Prime Minister Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo has offered dialogue with all factions, but the protesters have rejected this, stating, “We do not reach out to a regime that every day crushes those who stand up for justice.”
The situation remains fluid, with it being not clear whether other military units will follow CAPSAT’s lead. Madagascar, a nation with a history of political instability, is now grappling with a profound challenge to its leadership and future.
First Piper 