Groups of soldiers in Madagascar joined thousands of protesters in the capital, Antananarivo, on Saturday, vowing to defy any orders to shoot demonstrators.

The latest youth-led protests drew massive crowds around the Lake Anosy area, marking one of the largest gatherings since unrest began on September 25 over power and water shortages. The demonstrations have since evolved into a broader anti-government movement.

Witnesses said security forces initially used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the protesters before soldiers arrived at the scene, where they were greeted with cheers and chants of “Thank you!” Many of the soldiers waved Madagascar flags in solidarity.

Earlier that day, soldiers at a barracks in Soanierana, on the outskirts of the city, declared they would not fire on their compatriots. In a video shared on social media, the troops urged fellow military personnel, police, and gendarmes to resist orders to use force.

“Let us join forces and refuse to be paid to shoot our friends, our brothers, and our sisters,” the soldiers said in the recording.

A protester kicks a tear gas canister as riot police officers use tear gas to disperse crowds during a nationwide youth-led protest over frequent power outages and water shortages, in Antananarivo, Madagascar, October 9, 2025. REUTERS/Zo Andrianjafy
They also called on soldiers stationed at the airport to block flights and urged others in military camps to “close the gates and await our instructions.”

“Do not obey orders from your superiors,” they added. “Point your weapons at those who order you to fire on your comrades, because they will not take care of our families if we die.”

The scale of military defection remains unclear, but the development marks a serious challenge for President Andry Rajoelina’s administration. The Soanierana base was the epicentre of a 2009 mutiny that brought Rajoelina to power.

At a press conference on Saturday, newly appointed Armed Forces Minister General Deramasinjaka Manantsoa Rakotoarivelo urged calm within the ranks, appealing for dialogue.

“We call on our brothers who disagree with us to prioritise dialogue,” he said, adding that “the Malagasy army remains a mediator and the nation’s last line of defence.”

The protests, now in their third week, have seen increasing violence. On Thursday, several people were injured when security forces used rubber bullets, armoured vehicles, and tear gas against demonstrators. Footage of officers beating an unconscious man went viral on social media.

The United Nations condemned the crackdown on Friday, urging authorities to “desist from unnecessary force and uphold the rights to free association and peaceful assembly.” The UN estimates that at least 22 people were killed in the early days of the unrest, though President Rajoelina has disputed the figure, claiming only 12 confirmed deaths — all of them “looters and vandals.”

In the wake of the crisis, Rajoelina initially dissolved his government but has since taken a tougher stance. On October 6, he appointed a military officer as prime minister and selected new cabinet members from the military, police, and security forces, declaring that Madagascar “no longer needs disturbances.”

Among the world’s poorest nations, Madagascar has experienced repeated political upheavals since independence in 1960. The 2009 protests that toppled then-President Marc Ravalomanana installed Rajoelina in power. He was re-elected in 2018 and again in 2023 in elections boycotted by the opposition.

https://parallelfactsnews.com/madagascar-soldiers-join-protesters/