Sat Oct 11 18:55:04 UTC 2025: **Madagascar Protests Surge as Soldiers Defy Orders, Join Anti-Government Demonstrators**
**Antananarivo, Madagascar** – Anti-government protests in Madagascar escalated dramatically on Saturday as some factions of the military defied orders and joined thousands of youth-led demonstrators in the capital, Antananarivo. Protesters entered the iconic May 13 Square, a traditional site for political demonstrations, for the first time since the unrest began on September 25.
Inspired by youth movements in Kenya and Nepal, the protests initially stemmed from anger over power and water shortages but have since grown into a broader demand for the resignation of President Andry Rajoelina.
Tensions peaked when police attempted to disperse protesters with stun grenades and tear gas. In response, soldiers from the elite CAPSAT unit, a group instrumental in Rajoelina’s ascent to power in 2009, publicly called for solidarity with the demonstrators. In a video shared on social media, soldiers urged fellow members of the armed forces to refuse orders to fire on protesters and called on those at the airport to prevent aircraft from taking off.
Videos circulating on local media showed soldiers escorting protesters into May 13 Square, a location that had been heavily guarded and off-limits to demonstrators. The Minister of the Armed Forces has called for calm and dialogue among the military, emphasizing the army’s role as a mediator.
The United Nations has urged authorities to refrain from using excessive force, following reports of at least 22 deaths and 100 injuries during the protests. Videos of alleged police brutality have also surfaced online. President Rajoelina disputes the casualty figures, stating that the deaths were looters and vandals.
Rajoelina, who initially sacked his government in response to the unrest, has since appointed a military officer as prime minister and named members of the armed forces to key cabinet positions.
Madagascar has experienced frequent political instability since gaining independence in 1960. Rajoelina first came to power in 2009 following mass protests and military intervention and was re-elected in 2018 and 2023 in elections boycotted by the opposition.
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