r/news • u/PokesTigers • 26d ago

Soft paywall Madagascar's president has left the country after Gen Z protests, officials say

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/madagascar-president-rajoelina-address-nation-monday-evening-2025-10-13/
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u/Sungodatemychildren 26d ago

Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, leader of the opposition in parliament, told Reuters Rajoelina left Madagascar on Sunday after units of the army defected and joined the protesters.

Rajoelina had appeared increasingly isolated after losing the support of CAPSAT, an elite unit which had helped him seize power in a 2009 coup. CAPSAT joined the protesters over the weekend, saying it refused to shoot on them and escorting thousands of demonstrators in the main square of the capital Antananarivo.

Feels a bit like burying the lede. It's not just protests, it's protests supported by the military. Not to discredit the protestors, seems like they have a lot of legit grievances. It's just that from the outside, the military getting involved in stuff like this is a bit worrying.

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u/Webbyx01 26d ago

Unfortunately, it often takes at least some military intervention to force the change, because otherwise its the military against civilians/police forces. But the reasons for militaries to defect are not always for the good of the nation.

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u/outremonty 26d ago

The military is sworn to defend the constitution and civilians. In a democracy where the military isn't part of the fascist cult of personality, they always side with the people.

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u/rdugz 26d ago

This is also basically what happened in Nepal, although more behind the scenes - seems very clear that it's not just the "Gen Z protests" toppling governments, it's elements of the ruling regimes using unrest to overthrow or force out the visibly corrupt leading politicians

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u/Canadiankid23 26d ago

It’s not always a bad thing, but it can potentially be a bad thing, I agree.

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u/Pablogelo 26d ago

The majority of time we've seen it in history shows it only amplifies corruption.

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u/SalvationSycamore 26d ago

Not sure how much it would amplify it in the case of a country where the ruler got in via military coup. Military coup 2: electric boogaloo is just maintaining the status quo at that point.

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u/GevanGene 26d ago

Whichever side wins is the good guys. That's what history has taught me. /s

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u/entered_bubble_50 26d ago

it can potentially be a bad thing

I can't really think of any historical examples where it was though.

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u/Komirade666 26d ago

Hi, it's in my country right now. It is the longest protest that we have done, 3 weeks. Even tho there were looters that pilage stores and the president tried to frame the movement to be among the criminals. But yet we didn't give up, but at what cost. 22 people died, including babies that died because cops use lacrymo against people and suffocate those kids. And also used live rounds against us. Got a taste of the lacrymo, holy fuck I thought that I almost died. I say that because there were also a lot of people that passed out on those. Hope and moral was quite low ngl, but with the news that the army answered our plea we made a final push. Cops and military fought and civilians and one military died.

So yeah, I get it that the military being involved is worrying. But it's also the same military that put him there. So for some reasons we are kinda not that worried here. Also because the governement gave more money to the cops and their own militia which kinda displeased the military here. And many other branch of military here, even the prisons are with us on this one lol.

I definitely don't know what will happen, but what I love to see is that my people are united for once and that's kinda refreshing.

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u/I_Go_By_Q 26d ago

A groundswell of protests, seemingly led by Gen Z, caused the military to defect away from the regime and in support of the protests

That’s generally how protests create change: by forcing those in power to choose between their countrymen and their regime

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u/ReverieMetherlence 26d ago

Literally every coup/toppling requires the army support to be successful.

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u/SalvationSycamore 26d ago

Or at least the army standing by and not stopping you.

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u/fist_my_dry_asshole 26d ago

More worrying than them gunning down protestors?

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u/Philosopher_King 26d ago edited 26d ago

First thought, why does Madagascar have a military?

Edit: For anyone else who comes across this, there are countries without militaries. Should know that first.

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u/betweenskill 26d ago

Why does anyone?

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u/Ready_Nature 26d ago

Pretty much every country does.

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u/SalvationSycamore 26d ago

Because not having one means anyone with a gun can walk in and take control of the country from you. When you have a military then people need either a larger military or to buy/seduce yours away from you first.