HIBAPRESS
A colonel in the Madagascan army announced today, Tuesday, that the armed forces have taken over the government in Madagascar after the president, Andry Rajoelina, fled the country.
Colonel Michael Randrianirina explained in an interview with national radio that the army announced the dissolution of all institutions, with the exception of the House of Representatives, which voted minutes earlier to remove Rajoelina from the presidency. Randrianirina described the uprising, in which soldiers joined protests by the "Generation Z" movement, which is against the government, as a response to the people's call for change. Former President: Assassination Attempt and Safe Place Rajoelina had previously announced the dissolution of the National Assembly in an escalation amid a tense political crisis, after widespread protests and calls for his resignation. A decree was published on social media platforms indicating consultations with parliamentary leaders, without clarifying the legal nature of the procedure. In a televised speech from an undisclosed location on Monday evening, the 51-year-old president said that he was in a "safe place" after being subjected to an "assassination attempt", stressing the need to respect the constitution and refusing to respond to calls to step down. He pointed out that a group of military personnel and politicians had tried to kill him, but he confirmed that he held no grudge against them and that he was open to dialogue to get out of the crisis. He also warned of the economic and political repercussions, pointing out that any disturbances could lead to a shortage of international funding, as happened after the 2009 coup that brought him to power. Living Crisis and Ongoing Protests About 80% of Madagascar's population of 32 million live below the poverty line, according to the World Bank, making the country highly susceptible to the political crisis. Meanwhile, the opposition is trying to collect signatures to impeach the president in parliament, amid increasing divisions in the army and constant pressure from the new generation of youth demanding his resignation and opening a new page in governance.
