French Military Evacuates Madagascar’s President Rajoelina Amid Escalating Unrest

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Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has been evacuated from the country aboard a French military aircraft, as protests involving civilians and sections of the army continue to sweep across the capital, Antananarivo, and other regions.

According to Radio France Internationale (RFI), Rajoelina was flown out of Madagascar on October 12, 2025, following an agreement reached with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Reports indicate that a helicopter first transported Rajoelina to Sainte-Marie Island, off Madagascar’s western coast, where he boarded a French military plane believed to have later continued to Dubai, with a stopover in Mauritius.

The French government confirmed it facilitated the evacuation to help ease tensions and prevent further violence, but stressed that its military would not intervene in Madagascar’s internal affairs.

The Madagascar Presidency announced on its official Facebook page on October 13 that Rajoelina would deliver an address to the nation later in the evening.

The ongoing protests began on September 25, with demonstrators demanding access to clean water, stable electricity, an end to corruption and embezzlement, and improvements in healthcare services.

Instead of addressing these grievances, Rajoelina deployed police and military forces to disperse the crowds, using excessive force. The situation escalated as youth-led movements called for his resignation.

On October 11, members of the CAPSAT military unit declared that they would no longer obey orders to crack down on civilians, announcing their solidarity with the protesters.

“We soldiers are no longer fulfilling our true duty. We have become oppressors,” the unit said in a statement. “We obeyed orders that were unlawful, using force against citizens we are meant to protect. Violence has continued even against young students demanding their rights.”

Following that declaration, reports emerged that Rajoelina had fled Antananarivo, as CAPSAT troops advanced toward the city’s central square, Place du 13-Mai, a historic epicenter of political uprisings in Madagascar.

The country now faces an uncertain political future as both military and civilian movements continue to challenge Rajoelina’s leadership marking the most serious crisis since he first came to power following the 2009 military-backed uprising.


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