Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina has left the capital and moved to a "safe place" to protect his life, amid widespread protests nationwide, according to a statement he broadcast live on Facebook on the evening of October 13 (local time).
For security reasons, I was forced to go to a safe place, Rajoelina, 51, said in a brief speech, but did not disclose the current location.
He was previously rumored to have been evacuated from the country by French military aircraft on October 12. A military source told the British news agency that the French Air Force's Casa took him after he was taken by helicopter to Sainte Marie Airport.
The Japanese presidential cabinet confirmed that the TV address scheduled for the afternoon of October 13 had been postponed after an armed group threatened to take control of the national broadcaster.
In Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed deep concern about the situation in the African island nation that was once a French colony but refused to confirm information about France's involvement in the evacuation of Mr. Rajoelina.
I will not confirm anything today. We just want to express our great concern, Mr. Macron said from an international conference in Egypt on October 13.
The political crisis in Madagascar broke out since late September, starting with protests against prolonged power outages and water shortages, which quickly turned into a wave of outrage over escalating prices, corruption and poverty.
On September 25, thousands of people poured into the streets of the capital Antananarivo, demanding that Rajoelina resign. By the end of last week, some military units said they were on the side of the protests, refusing to "receive orders to fire at civilians".
On October 11, the CAPSAT task force - the unit that helped Rajoelina take power during the 2009 coup - announced that it had controlled the Madagascar army. Meanwhile, the president called the action "an illegal and forced occupation of power".
On October 13, hundreds of people continued to gather outside the Antananarivo Capital City Hall, waving flags and shouting slogans demanding President Rajoelina's apologies and resignation. After that, we can hold an election and choose a worthy leader, Finaritra Manitra Andrianamelasoa, 24, told AFP.
At least 22 people have been killed in clashes between security forces and protests in the past two weeks, according to the United Nations.
