President Andry Rajoelina announced on 12 October that an “attempt to seize power illegally and by force” was underway in Madagascar. The warning followed an elite army unit, CAPSAT (which helped Rajoelina seize power in 2009), joining youth-led “Gen Z” protests in the capital, Antananarivo. CAPSAT officers claimed they had taken control of the military command. This represents a severe political destabilization, escalating from weeks of protests over high cost of living, corruption, and service failures.