The army says it has seized power in Madagascar after the president moved to a “safe place”

A special military unit announced it had seized power in Madagascar from President Andry Rajoelina after weeks of youth-led protests on the Indian Ocean island.

The army will form a government and hold elections within two years, KAPSAT head Colonel Michael Randrianrena said outside the presidential palace on Tuesday. He also suspended the work of key democratic institutions, such as the Electoral Commission.

He added that Generation Z protesters will be part of the changes because “the movement originated in the streets so we have to respect their demands.”

Troops and demonstrators celebrated the apparent ouster of President Rajoelina, with thousands waving flags in the capital, Antananarivo.

CAPSAT stands for Department of Personnel and Technical and Administrative Services Corps, and is the most powerful military unit in Madagascar.

The unit supported Rajoelina when he took power in 2009, but joined the protesters on Saturday.

Madagascar’s Constitutional Court has appointed Colonel Randrianirina as the country’s new president, although a statement from the president’s office said he remained in power and condemned what it described as an “attempted coup.”

Rajoelina’s whereabouts are unknown, but he said he was taking shelter in a “safe place” after an alleged assassination attempt by “military and political personnel.” CAPSAT has denied any involvement in any such move.

There were unconfirmed reports that the president was flown out of the country on a French military plane.

Also on Tuesday, the US State Department urged all parties to “seek a peaceful solution consistent with the constitutional order.”

Colonel Randrianirina told the BBC that Madagascar is “a chaotic country at the moment.”

“Chaos because there is no president, he has gone abroad.”

The unrest began just over two weeks ago, after a youth-led movement began In protest against chronic water and electricity outages across the country.

The demonstrations quickly escalated, reflecting broader dissatisfaction with Rajoelina’s government over high unemployment, rampant corruption and a cost-of-living crisis.

Protesters clashed with security forces, killing at least 22 people and wounding more than 100 others, according to the United Nations, although Madagascar’s government has rejected those figures as based on “rumors and misinformation.”

President Rajoelina, a businessman and former DJ, was seen as a new beginning for Madagascar.

The baby-faced leader became president when he was just 34 years old, earning him the title of Africa’s youngest leader, and continued to rule for four years, before returning to power after the 2018 elections.

But he lost popularity after allegations of nepotism and corruption, which he denied.

Although power seemed to have turned away from him, he continued to try to influence events.

Rajoelina tried to dissolve the National Assembly before the opposition could vote to strip him of his presidency due to him abandoning the position, but that did not succeed.

Lawmakers voted to impeach Rajoelina by 130 votes against a blank ballot on Tuesday. Even members of his own party, Irmar, voted overwhelmingly to impeach him.

Rajoelina rejected the vote, calling it “null and void.”

The African Union warned against “interference” by soldiers in Madagascar’s political affairs and rejected “any attempt to bring about unconstitutional changes of government.”

French President Emmanuel Macron described the situation as “extremely worrying.”

The island has witnessed a series of political unrest in recent years.

Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world, with 75% of its 30 million people living below the poverty line, according to the World Bank.