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Numerous protesters in opposition to Madagascar's head of state were accompanied on the streets of the capital on the afternoon of Saturday by troops from an specialized army division, who that morning declared they would not open fire on activists.

Proceeding Alongside Armored Cars

Activists walked with soldiers from the Capsat division, who operated heavy cars, some waving national flags, from their base in Soanierana in the southern part of Antananarivo.

Appealing to the Masses

A Capsat officer, Lylison René de Rolland, then addressed the supportive masses in front of the municipal building in 13 May Square, which demonstrators had before been denied entry to. Capsat military personnel brought the incumbent head of state, Andry Rajoelina, to authority in a seizure of power in 2009.

Raising Pressure on the Head of State

The troops' involvement ratcheted up strain on Rajoelina, who protesters have been demanding step aside. The student-led demonstrations commenced on 25 September, initially over water and electricity cuts. However, they quickly broadened into calls for a comprehensive overhaul of the governance structure, with the gen Z protesters not placated by Rajoelina firing his cabinet last week.

Police Actions

Previously that day, security forces fired stun grenades and chemical irritants to try to disperse the demonstrators. The newly named minister of the armed forces also called on military personnel to "remain calm", at a media briefing on Saturday.

"We urge our colleagues who oppose us to focus on communication," minister general Deramasinjaka Manantsoa Rakotoarivelo declared. "The Malagasy army is still a peacemaker and forms the country's last line of defence."

Troop Resistance

However, a Capsat officer supported by a sizable contingent of troops urged other troop formations to "disobey commands to shoot your friends", in a video that was published on social media before they departed from their barracks.

"We must combine efforts, troops, security forces and law enforcement, and reject payment to attack our allies, our comrades and our compatriots," he declared, also appealing to military personnel at the airfield to "stop all flights from departing".

"Close the entrances and await our orders," he said. "Do not obey directives from your superiors. Point your arms at those who order you to attack your fellow soldiers, because they will not take care of our families if we perish."

President's Silence

Nothing has been shared on the president's online profiles since Friday night, when he was seen meeting the heads of 10 of the state's colleges to discuss bettering students' lives.

Protester Apprehensions

An protester who attended Saturday's demonstrations said she was concerned about the role of Capsat, due to their part in the 2009 takeover that propelled Rajoelina to power. She also criticised government officials who made brief addresses to the gathering in front of the municipal building as "those seeking advantage".

"This is the reason I'm not celebrating at all, because all of those people circling this 'event' are all concerning," stated the demonstrator, who requested anonymity for concern for her well-being.

Gen Z Outlook

A member of Gen Z Madagascar, a leaderless collective of youth that has supported the arrangement of the demonstrations, also expressed doubts about what would happen next. "We feel pleased, but significant events are unfolding [and] we don't want another corrupted figure to assume control here, so we will employ all means to have the privilege to choose who to place in power," he stated.