Madagascar descended deeper into political chaos on Tuesday after President Andry Rajoelina dissolved the National Assembly, escalating weeks of unrest that have gripped the Indian Ocean nation.
The decree, announced via Facebook, stated that Rajoelina had consulted the leaders of the Senate and the Assembly, though the legality of the move remains unclear.
“This decree shall enter into force immediately upon its publication by radio and/or television broadcast,” the statement read.
The president’s announcement came as protests intensified across the capital, Antananarivo, with crowds of young demonstrators joined by mutinous soldiers.
Rajoelina, speaking from an undisclosed location, rejected growing calls for his resignation, insisting that the decision to dissolve parliament was intended to restore order within our nation and strengthen democracy.
“The people must be heard again. Make way for the youth,” he wrote on social media, echoing language used by the young activists who have led weeks of anti-government demonstrations.
Opposition leader Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko quickly denounced the dissolution, declaring plans to initiate impeachment proceedings and accusing Rajoelina of abandoning his constitutional duties.
The president later said he was staying in a safe space after receiving threats, without disclosing his whereabouts.
The unrest began on September 25 and has since spiraled into the most serious challenge to Rajoelina’s rule since his return to power in 2018.
Over the weekend, soldiers from the elite CAPSAT unit joined the protests, demanding the resignation of the president and his ministers.
CAPSAT’s involvement has revived memories of 2009, when the same unit helped Rajoelina seize power in a military-backed coup.
Last month, the president dismissed his entire cabinet in an attempt to defuse tensions, but the gesture failed to calm the streets.
Violent clashes between protesters and security forces have resulted in multiple casualties, further fueling anger among the youth-led movement.
Speculation has also mounted over Rajoelina’s whereabouts, with unconfirmed reports suggesting he may have briefly left the country aboard a French military plane over the weekend. French authorities have neither confirmed nor denied the claims.
By dissolving parliament, analysts say, Rajoelina may be seeking to preempt an opposition-led vote of no confidence that could have removed him from office, a move that risks deepening Madagascar’s political instability and pushing the country into an even greater constitutional crisis.