Madagascar's president, Andry Rajoelina, has warned that an illegal attempt to seize power by force is underway, after an elite military unit announced it was taking over the army.
The intervention by the Capsat unit, which brought Rajoelina to power in a 2009 coup, follows weeks of youth-led protests against water and electricity shortages. The demonstrations, which began on 25 September, have expanded to demand the president's resignation, an end to corruption, and political reform.
In a videoed statement, Capsat soldiers said they were taking command of the military. Later, General Demosthene Pikulas was installed as chief of army staff, stating the army has a responsibility to restore calm. He refused to call for Rajoelina's resignation. The government has expressed willingness to engage in dialogue.
The protests, initially coordinated by the leaderless Gen Z Madagascar group, have seen at least 22 deaths according to the UN, though Rajoelina disputes this figure. Capsat said it would not fire on protesters and one of its soldiers was killed by gendarmerie.
Madagascar, a poor Indian Ocean nation with a GDP per capita of $545 and ranked 140th on Transparency International's corruption index, remains tense as political and military factions vie for control.
