Madagascar Crisis Deepens as Elite CAPSAT Unit Claims Military Control Amid Power Struggle

The political crisis gripping Madagascar has intensified significantly following a declaration by the elite Special Intervention and Anti-Terrorism Unit (CAPSAT) that it has assumed command over all branches of the nation's armed forces. This move, announced on Sunday, October 12, 2025, directly challenges the authority of President Andry Rajoelina, who simultaneously stated that an “attempt to seize power illegally and by force” was underway against the constitutional order.

CAPSAT officers issued a video statement claiming full authority over the land, air, and naval forces, and announced the appointment of General Demosthene Pikulas as the new chief of staff. This elite contingent, which previously played a key role in the 2009 coup that brought President Rajoelina to power, had previously declared solidarity with the youth demonstrators on October 2, 2025, urging fellow security forces to refuse orders to shoot civilians.

The unrest began in late September 2025, sparked by severe, chronic shortages of basic necessities like water and electricity in the capital, Antananarivo. The digitally organized "Gen Z" movement quickly broadened its scope, moving from service complaints to systemic demands for accountability and the resignation of President Rajoelina. The escalating friction has resulted in significant casualties, with The United Nations reporting at least 22 people killed and over 100 injured, figures the government has contested.

President Rajoelina’s efforts to de-escalate the situation, including dissolving his government on September 29, 2025, and appointing a military general, Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo, as the new Prime Minister on October 6, 2025, failed to quell the momentum. The international community, including the African Union Commission, has urged all factions to uphold constitutional order and pursue dialogue as the only viable path forward in navigating this profound systemic challenge.