On Monday night, the president addressed his country from an unknown location. He reportedly fled there to protect his life. He also said he would not allow “Madagascar to be destroyed.” A diplomatic source told Reuters news agency after the speech that Rajoelina did not intend to resign.
Opposition leader Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko said Rajoelina left the country Sunday. According to a source within the military, he flew out in a French plane. French radio station RFI reported that Rajoelina made a deal with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Macron would not confirm the reporting in front of journalists after the Gaza summit in Egypt. France earlier expressed its intention not to intervene militarily in the former colony.
The people of the East African island state have been calling for Rajoelina’s resignation for nearly a month because of the country’s high unemployment, cost of living and corruption. The president had already dissolved his government as a result of the demonstrations.
The protests began just under a month ago, following prolonged power outages and water supply problems. It soon turned into a broad demonstration against the government, with at least 22 people already killed and more than 100 injured, according to the UN.
Police tried to violently disperse protesters in capital Antananarivo last weekend, but were forced to call off when military personnel also joined them. These declared authority over the country a few hours later. According to Rajoelina, it was a coup.
