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Thousands of activists in opposition to Madagascar's head of state were supported on the roads of the capital on the afternoon of Saturday by soldiers from an premier army division, who earlier in the day stated they would not fire on demonstrators.

Advancing With Military Cars

Protesters walked alongside soldiers from the Capsat division, who operated armored vehicles, some displaying Madagascar flags, from their barracks in Soanierana in the southern district of Antananarivo.

Speaking to the Gathering

A Capsat leader, Lylison René de Rolland, then addressed the cheering masses in front of the town hall in 13 May Square, which protesters had before been blocked from accessing. Capsat soldiers brought the current head of state, Andry Rajoelina, to authority in a coup in 2009.

Raising Strain on the Leader

The troops' intervention ratcheted up strain on Rajoelina, who demonstrators have been insisting on stand down. The young people-led rallies erupted on 25 September, initially over service disruptions. However, they swiftly widened into appeals for a complete overhaul of the political system, with the younger generation protesters not satisfied by Rajoelina removing his government last week.

Police Actions

That morning, security forces used flashbangs and riot control agents to try to disperse the demonstrators. The recently appointed defense minister also urged soldiers to "stay composed", at a press conference on Saturday.

"We appeal to our comrades who oppose us to prioritise communication," military minister Deramasinjaka Manantsoa Rakotoarivelo stated. "Madagascar's armed forces continues to be a intermediary and constitutes the country's ultimate protection."

Troop Defiance

However, a Capsat officer supported by a significant number of soldiers appealed to other troop formations to "disobey commands to fire upon your comrades", in a video that was posted on social media before they departed from their base.

"Let us join forces, army, gendarmes and police, and reject payment to fire upon our allies, our brothers and our compatriots," he stated, also calling on military personnel at the aviation hub to "stop all planes from departing".

"Close the access points and await our directions," he stated. "Disregard orders from your superiors. Direct your weapons at those who instruct you to fire on your fellow soldiers, because they will not look after our relatives if we die."

Leader's Inactivity

No updates has been posted on the leader's digital platforms since the evening of Friday, when he was photographed discussing with the directors of 10 of the state's colleges to discuss bettering the student experience.

Protester Concerns

An activist who participated in the Saturday protests stated she was worried about the involvement of Capsat, due to their part in the 2009 seizure of power that propelled Rajoelina to power. She also criticised government officials who made quick speeches to the gathering in front of the city hall as "self-serving individuals".

"That's why I'm not celebrating at all, because all of those individuals involved in this 'development' are all concerning," stated the demonstrator, who requested anonymity for concern for her security.

Youth Outlook

A representative of Gen Z Madagascar, a leaderless group of young people that has assisted in organizing the rallies, also voiced concerns about what would transpire in the future. "We feel pleased, but significant events are unfolding [and] we do not desire another dishonest person to take the power here, so we will take all measures to have the opportunity to select who to install in leadership," he said.