Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina unexpectedly left the country on Sunday, October 12, amid escalating protests led by the Generation Z movement, which recently garnered support from within the military.
According to Radio France Internationale, Rajoelina was first transported by helicopter to Sainte-Marie Island, located off Madagascar’s eastern coast, and later flew on a French military CASA aircraft to Réunion Island, with a final undisclosed destination.
Reports indicate that the evacuation was arranged through an understanding between French President Emmanuel Macron and his Malagasy counterpart, aimed at facilitating a peaceful transition of power. Paris has emphasized that it does not intend to intervene militarily in the crisis.
Since September 25, Madagascar has witnessed increasing protests from the Generation Z movement due to recurrent water and electricity outages, provoking widespread public outrage. The crisis intensified notably on October 11 when elements of the military declared their support for the protesters, marking a pivotal shift that effectively ended Rajoelina’s authority.
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