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A multitude of activists against the nation's president were accompanied on the avenues of the main city on the afternoon of Saturday by military personnel from an elite army division, who that morning declared they would not shoot at activists.

Marching Together with Heavy Cars

Activists marched with troops from the Capsat squadron, who drove military cars, some waving the country's banners, from their base in Soanierana in the southern part of Antananarivo.

Speaking to the Gathering

A Capsat leader, Lylison René de Rolland, then appealed to the supportive masses in front of the city hall in 13 May Square, which protesters had before been prevented from reaching. Capsat soldiers propelled the current head of state, Andry Rajoelina, to authority in a seizure of power in 2009.

Escalating Strain on the Head of State

The soldiers' intervention increased tension on Rajoelina, who activists have been calling for step aside. The youth-led demonstrations commenced on 25 September, at first over utility shortages. However, they quickly broadened into calls for a comprehensive restructuring of the government system, with the youth demonstrators not satisfied by Rajoelina firing his government last week.

Police Measures

That morning, police deployed stun grenades and riot control agents to try to scatter the demonstrators. The newly named military affairs minister also appealed to military personnel to "stay composed", at a news conference on Saturday.

"We call on our comrades who are against us to prioritise dialogue," minister general Deramasinjaka Manantsoa Rakotoarivelo said. "The Malagasy army continues to be a peacemaker and forms the country's last line of defence."

Army Opposition

However, a Capsat officer supported by a large group of military personnel called on other troop formations to "disobey commands to attack your comrades", in a recording that was shared on digital networks before they exited their base.

"Let us join forces, troops, gendarmes and law enforcement, and reject payment to shoot our friends, our comrades and our fellow citizens," he stated, also calling on soldiers at the airfield to "prevent all planes from taking off".

"Secure the access points and expect our orders," he stated. "Disregard commands from your officers. Point your weapons at those who order you to shoot at your fellow soldiers, because they will not take care of our families if we die."

Leader's Inactivity

No updates has been posted on the head of state's digital platforms since the evening of Friday, when he was seen meeting the directors of 10 of the country's colleges to address improving students' lives.

Protester Concerns

An activist who joined Saturday's protests said she was apprehensive about the participation of Capsat, due to their involvement in the 2009 coup that installed Rajoelina to power. She also denounced political figures who made short statements to the masses in front of the city hall as "self-serving individuals".

"This is the reason I'm not feeling joyful at all, because all of those figures circling this 'development' are all risky," stated the demonstrator, who didn't want to be named for apprehension for her safety.

Young Generation Perspective

A representative of the young activists, a non-hierarchical collective of students that has supported the arrangement of the demonstrations, also expressed doubts about what would occur subsequently. "We are very happy, but a lot is happening [and] we do not desire another dishonest figure to take the power here, so we will employ all means to have the right to select who to install in leadership," he commented.