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A multitude of demonstrators against Madagascar's head of state were supported on the streets of the capital city on Saturday by military personnel from an premier army division, who previously that day stated they would not open fire on protesters.

Proceeding Alongside Military Vehicles

Protesters marched alongside troops from the Capsat unit, who operated heavy vehicles, some brandishing the country's banners, from their headquarters in Soanierana in the southern district of Antananarivo.

Addressing the Crowds

A Capsat officer, Lylison René de Rolland, then appealed to the supportive gathering in front of the municipal building in 13 May Square, which demonstrators had earlier been blocked from accessing. Capsat military personnel installed the incumbent president, Andry Rajoelina, to leadership in a seizure of power in 2009.

Increasing Tension on the Leader

The soldiers' involvement escalated pressure on Rajoelina, who demonstrators have been demanding stand down. The student-led protests broke out on 25 September, originally over water and electricity cuts. However, they quickly expanded into appeals for a complete reform of the political system, with the gen Z protesters not placated by Rajoelina dismissing his administration last week.

Police Actions

That morning, police fired stun grenades and riot control agents to try to scatter the activists. The recently appointed defense minister also appealed to troops to "remain calm", at a press conference on Saturday.

"We call on our brothers who disagree with us to focus on communication," general minister Deramasinjaka Manantsoa Rakotoarivelo said. "Madagascar's armed forces is still a peacemaker and forms the state's last line of defence."

Troop Opposition

However, a Capsat officer accompanied by a sizable contingent of troops appealed to other military units to "disobey commands to shoot your allies", in a footage that was shared on online platforms before they exited their barracks.

"We must combine efforts, army, gendarmes and law enforcement, and decline compensation to attack our friends, our comrades and our compatriots," he said, also appealing to soldiers at the airport to "block all aircraft from taking off".

"Shut the access points and await our instructions," he stated. "Ignore commands from your officers. Direct your weapons at those who command you to attack your military brothers, because they will not take care of our families if we are killed."

President's Silence

No updates has been published on the leader's social media accounts since Friday night, when he was seen conferring with the directors of 10 of the country's higher education institutions to talk about improving students' lives.

Protester Apprehensions

An protester who joined that day's protests said she was concerned about the role of Capsat, due to their role in the 2009 coup that brought Rajoelina to leadership. She also criticised government officials who made brief addresses to the gathering in front of the city hall as "those seeking advantage".

"This is the reason I'm not celebrating at all, because all of those figures gravitating around this 'development' are all risky," commented the activist, who declined to give her name for concern for her safety.

Gen Z Perspective

A member of the young activists, a decentralized collective of youth that has supported the arrangement of the demonstrations, also expressed doubts about what would occur subsequently. "We are delighted, but many developments are occurring [and] we wish to avoid another dishonest figure to take the power here, so we will take all measures to have the right to select who to put up there," he stated.