Antananarivo: An elite military unit in Madagascar announced on Tuesday that it had seized power, hours after parliament voted to impeach President Andry Rajoelina amid weeks of anti-government protests. The CAPSAT unit, which joined demonstrators over the weekend, declared control in the capital as crowds celebrated in the streets.

The presidency condemned the move as “a clear act of attempted coup”, stating Rajoelina remained in office and was reportedly in hiding abroad. The 51-year-old leader had refused to resign despite growing demands from protestors, who began demonstrating on September 25 over widespread power and water shortages, evolving into broader opposition against the president and political elite.

Outside the presidential palace, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, CAPSAT’s commander, announced the suspension of the constitution and the creation of a governing committee made up of officers from the army, gendarmerie, and national police, with the possibility of adding civilian advisers later. He confirmed, “We have taken power”, and pledged to establish a civilian government within days.

Following the announcement, CAPSAT officers paraded through the capital in armoured Humvees and pick-up trucks, returning to their barracks where hundreds of soldiers greeted them. Jubilant residents lined the streets, waved, cheered, and joined the convoy in a show of support.

Despite the presidency’s attempt to block impeachment by dissolving the national assembly, lawmakers proceeded with the vote, securing 130 votes in favour—well over the two-thirds threshold. The constitutional court validated the impeachment and confirmed Randrianirina’s authority.

Reports emerged that Rajoelina, who has French nationality, left the country with French assistance, possibly heading to Dubai. In an address late Monday, he said he was in a “safe place” to protect his life, asserting he would not resign and was “on a mission” to resolve the crisis without letting the nation, already struggling in poverty, “destroy itself.”

The largely youth-led protest movement escalated over the weekend when CAPSAT, which was instrumental in the 2009 coup that originally brought Rajoelina to power, joined demonstrators. They were followed by the gendarmerie, which admitted to “faults and excesses” during protests, where the UN reported at least 22 deaths—a figure the government disputed.

Demonstrators also rallied against French influence, accusing the former colonial power of meddling in the island’s politics. “It’s like they’re colonising us again. We want them to leave our island for good,” said one civil engineer from Antananarivo.

The African Union, the SADC regional bloc, and the United Nations voiced concern over the developments. UN spokesman Farhan Haq said, “If there is a coup underway, we would stand against that,” adding the organisation was monitoring the situation closely.

With inputs from AFP