🔗 Share this article

Thousands of activists in opposition to the nation's president were supported on the avenues of the main city on Saturday afternoon by soldiers from an elite army division, who earlier in the day said they would not open fire on activists.

Advancing Together with Armored Cars

Demonstrators proceeded together with soldiers from the Capsat division, who operated heavy cars, some displaying the country's banners, from their barracks in Soanierana in the southern part of Antananarivo.

Appealing to the Gathering

A Capsat commander, Lylison René de Rolland, then addressed the supportive masses in front of the municipal building in 13 May Square, which activists had earlier been denied entry to. Capsat troops propelled the current leader, Andry Rajoelina, to power in a coup in 2009.

Raising Pressure on the Head of State

The soldiers' intervention increased tension on Rajoelina, who activists have been demanding resign. The young people-led rallies erupted on 25 September, originally over service disruptions. However, they swiftly widened into calls for a comprehensive overhaul of the government system, with the gen Z protesters not satisfied by Rajoelina firing his government last week.

Security Forces Actions

Earlier in the day, police fired disorientation devices and riot control agents to try to disperse the demonstrators. The recently appointed minister of the armed forces also appealed to soldiers to "stay composed", at a press conference on Saturday.

"We call on our colleagues who oppose us to prioritise dialogue," general minister Deramasinjaka Manantsoa Rakotoarivelo said. "The Malagasy army remains a intermediary and constitutes the state's ultimate protection."

Army Opposition

However, a Capsat leader accompanied by a large group of military personnel called on other troop formations to "refuse orders to attack your comrades", in a video that was shared on digital networks before they left their base.

"Let us join forces, military, paramilitary and law enforcement, and decline compensation to attack our friends, our colleagues and our sisters," he said, also appealing to troops at the airfield to "prevent all planes from taking off".

"Shut the gates and wait for our orders," he stated. "Do not obey orders from your commanders. Aim your firearms at those who command you to attack your military brothers, because they will not take care of our families if we are killed."

President's Inactivity

Nothing has been shared on the head of state's social media accounts since Friday night, when he was photographed discussing with the leaders of 10 of the state's universities to discuss improving students' lives.

Activist Worries

An protester who attended that day's demonstrations said she was worried about the role of Capsat, due to their involvement in the 2009 seizure of power that installed Rajoelina to leadership. She also denounced politicians who made brief statements to the masses in front of the town hall as "opportunists".

"For this purpose I'm not feeling joyful at all, because all of those individuals circling this 'situation' are all dangerous," stated the protester, who declined to give her name for concern for her well-being.

Gen Z Outlook

A participant of the youth movement, a non-hierarchical group of young people that has supported the arrangement of the demonstrations, also voiced concerns about what would transpire in the future. "We feel pleased, but many developments are occurring [and] we do not desire another corrupted person to gain authority here, so we will take all measures to have the opportunity to select who to put up there," he stated.