Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina announced on national television that he had fled the country for his safety after a military rebellion, but he did not resign. In a delayed late‑night broadcast, he described an “illegal attempt to seize power” by an elite unit of the armed forces that had joined weeks‑long, Gen‑Z‑led anti‑government protests.

The unrest, sparked on Sept 25 over chronic water and electricity outages, escalated when the CAPSAT military unit rallied with thousands of demonstrators in Antananarivo’s main square, demanding the president and ministers step down. Rajoelina urged dialogue and constitutional respect, saying he was forced to find a secure location.

Unconfirmed reports claim he left aboard a French military aircraft, while the nation watches its most serious crisis since his 2009 rise to power.