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Thousands of protesters in opposition to Madagascar's president were joined on the streets of the capital on Saturday afternoon by troops from an elite army division, who that morning said they would not open fire on protesters.

Marching Alongside Military Transports

Demonstrators marched alongside military personnel from the Capsat squadron, who operated military vehicles, some brandishing Madagascar flags, from their headquarters in Soanierana in the southern part of Antananarivo.

Addressing the Crowds

A Capsat commander, Lylison René de Rolland, then spoke to the enthusiastic masses in front of the municipal building in 13 May Square, which activists had before been blocked from accessing. Capsat military personnel propelled the current leader, Andry Rajoelina, to authority in a coup in 2009.

Raising Tension on the President

The military's participation ratcheted up pressure on Rajoelina, who activists have been calling for step aside. The young people-led demonstrations erupted on 25 September, at first over water and electricity cuts. However, they rapidly widened into appeals for a total overhaul of the governance structure, with the gen Z demonstrators not satisfied by Rajoelina dismissing his government last week.

Law Enforcement Actions

That morning, law enforcement fired disorientation devices and riot control agents to try to break up the activists. The recently appointed military affairs minister also urged soldiers to "keep peaceful", at a media briefing on Saturday.

"We urge our brothers who are against us to prioritise discussion," minister general Deramasinjaka Manantsoa Rakotoarivelo stated. "The Malagasy army continues to be a peacemaker and represents the state's ultimate protection."

Troop Resistance

However, a Capsat commander supported by a significant number of military personnel appealed to other army divisions to "disobey commands to attack your allies", in a footage that was shared on digital networks before they left their base.

"We should unite, troops, paramilitary and law enforcement, and decline compensation to fire upon our friends, our brothers and our sisters," he declared, also calling on military personnel at the aviation hub to "stop all flights from taking off".

"Secure the entrances and await our directions," he stated. "Do not obey directives from your commanders. Aim your weapons at those who command you to attack your comrades-in-arms, because they will not look after our families if we die."

President's Silence

No information has been shared on the leader's digital platforms since Friday evening, when he was seen meeting the leaders of 10 of the state's higher education institutions to talk about bettering educational conditions.

Demonstrator Concerns

An activist who attended Saturday's demonstrations stated she was worried about the involvement of Capsat, due to their involvement in the 2009 coup that brought Rajoelina to power. She also denounced government officials who made quick speeches to the gathering in front of the town hall as "self-serving individuals".

"This is the reason I'm not feeling joyful at all, because all of those individuals gravitating around this 'situation' are all risky," said the protester, who requested anonymity for fear for her well-being.

Youth Perspective

A representative of the young activists, a leaderless group of youth that has supported the arrangement of the rallies, also raised questions about what would transpire in the future. "We are very happy, but a lot is happening [and] we wish to avoid another dishonest figure to gain authority here, so we will do everything to have the privilege to choose who to place in power," he stated.