नेपाल के बाद मेडागास्कर में GenZ ने तख्तापलट किया: दावा- पानी की कमी से प्रदर्शन शुरू हुआ, राष्ट्रपति मिलिट्री प्लेन से फ्रांस भागे

After Nepal, there has been a coup in the African country Madagascar also due to GenZ protest. According to Reuters report, the opposition party has claimed that President Andrey Rajoelina has fled the country.

The opposition leader in parliament, Siteni Randriana Soloniko, said the protesters fled the country on Sunday after receiving military support. At present, information about the President’s whereabouts is not available.

Protests started across the country on September 25 due to lack of water and electricity in Madagascar.

Earlier, the President’s Office had said that President Rajoelina will address the nation at 9:30 pm (Indian time) on Monday night.

flew on a French military plane

Rajoelina left the country on a French military plane on Sunday, a military source told Reuters. French radio RFI said they had reached an agreement with President Emmanuel Macron.

The source said that a CASA aircraft of the French military landed at Sainte Marie Airport in Madagascar on Sunday.

3 pictures related to the protest in Megadaskar…

Protesters gather outside the town hall on Monday during nationwide protests in the Madagascar capital, Antananarivo.

Protesters march with a military armored vehicle in Antananarivo.

GenZ protesters protesting in Megadaskar on Monday.

Army refused to support the President

President Andres Rajoelina’s position weakened when he lost the support of his own army’s most powerful unit, the Special Unit (CAPSAT). This was the unit that brought Rajoelina to power during the 2009 coup.

Now the same CAPSAT stood against them. On Sunday, this unit joined the people protesting in the capital Antananarivo. The soldiers clearly said that they will no longer open fire on the protesters. Instead, he himself began protecting the protesters and surrounded them in the capital’s main square.

The situation changed so much that CAPSAT announced that it was now taking control of the army, and also appointed a new army chief on its behalf. Defense Minister Lieutenant General Sahiwelo Lala Monza Delfin also approved it.

After this, CAPSAT officers joined the protesters in a square in the capital Antananarivo and demanded Rajoelina and several government ministers to step down.

The situation worsened on Monday when parts of the Gendarmerie (paramilitary force) also decided to support the protesters. In a formal ceremony in the presence of government officials, he announced that now he too was taking command of the Gendarmerie.

General Demosthenes Piculus (centre), who was declared the new army chief, attends tributes to a soldier killed in clashes the previous day at his base.

Resentment increased due to power cut and water shortage

On September 25, GenZ protesters began protests in Madagascar over water and electricity cuts. 22 people were killed and dozens were injured. This increased resentment across the country.

Trade unions also joined these demonstrations, leading to night-time curfews in Antananarivo and other major cities. A curfew is still in place in Antananarivo and the northern port city of Antsiranana.

The Gen Z protesters who inspired the uprising have mobilized via the internet and said they were inspired by other protests that toppled governments in Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Got independence in 1960, there was conflict between army and government

Democratic institutions have been weak here since independence from France in 1960. There have been repeated clashes between the military and political leaders to seize power. There have been 4 coups in the country so far. Sometimes the army removed the elected government, and sometimes the leaders tried to oust the opposition parties from power.

According to the World Bank, the situation in Madagascar is still extremely critical. The population here is around 3 crores. The most important thing is that the average age of the country is less than 20 years. That means it is a very young country. But despite this young population, nearly three-quarters of people still live in poverty.

Madagascar’s economy has suffered stagnation and decline for decades. Since gaining independence from France in 1960 and 2020, the country’s per capita GDP has declined by 45%.