Military personnel from specialized Capsat division align with demonstrations against Madagascar's head of state

A multitude of protesters opposing Madagascar's president were supported on the roads of the capital city on Saturday afternoon by troops from an elite army squadron, who previously that day stated they would not open fire on activists.

Proceeding With Heavy Cars

Demonstrators walked together with troops from the Capsat division, who piloted armored vehicles, some brandishing Madagascar flags, from their base in Soanierana in the southern part of Antananarivo.

Addressing the Masses

A Capsat officer, Lylison René de Rolland, then spoke to the supportive gathering in front of the city hall in 13 May Square, which demonstrators had before been blocked from accessing. Capsat military personnel propelled the present head of state, Andry Rajoelina, to leadership in a takeover in 2009.

Escalating Tension on the President

The military's participation ratcheted up strain on Rajoelina, who demonstrators have been calling for resign. The youth-led protests broke out on 25 September, initially over water and electricity cuts. However, they rapidly broadened into demands for a complete overhaul of the government system, with the younger generation protesters not satisfied by Rajoelina dismissing his cabinet last week.

Police Response

Previously that day, security forces fired disorientation devices and teargas to try to scatter the protesters. The freshly assigned military affairs minister also appealed to troops to "keep peaceful", at a media briefing on Saturday.

"We call on our brothers who are against us to emphasize discussion," military minister Deramasinjaka Manantsoa Rakotoarivelo declared. "The Malagasy army remains a peacemaker and constitutes the nation's final safeguard."

Military Resistance

However, a Capsat commander supported by a large group of soldiers called on other military units to "reject directives to fire upon your friends", in a recording that was published on online platforms before they left their headquarters.

"We must combine efforts, troops, security forces and officers, and decline compensation to attack our friends, our brothers and our fellow citizens," he stated, also appealing to military personnel at the airfield to "block all aircraft from departing".

"Secure the entrances and wait for our orders," he stated. "Disregard orders from your superiors. Aim your arms at those who command you to shoot at your military brothers, because they will not look after our loved ones if we perish."

President's Inactivity

No information has been published on the head of state's social media accounts since Friday night, when he was photographed meeting the leaders of 10 of the state's universities to talk about enhancing students' lives.

Demonstrator Apprehensions

An protester who attended that day's protests stated she was concerned about the involvement of Capsat, due to their involvement in the 2009 takeover that propelled Rajoelina to authority. She also denounced political figures who made short speeches to the crowds in front of the city hall as "self-serving individuals".

"For this purpose I'm not celebrating at all, because all of those figures gravitating around this 'event' are all dangerous," stated the protester, who declined to give her name for apprehension for her security.

Gen Z Perspective

A participant of the young activists, a decentralized collective of youth that has supported the arrangement of the rallies, also voiced concerns about what would occur subsequently. "We feel pleased, but many developments are occurring [and] we don't want another corrupted person to assume control here, so we will employ all means to have the opportunity to choose who to put up there," he said.