Madagascar’s presidency says “an attempted illegal and forcible seizure of power” is under way in the African country, without providing details, a day after some soldiers joined a protest movement that had begun last month.

Troops from the elite CAPSAT unit that helped President Andry Rajoelina seize power in a 2009 coup urged fellow soldiers to disobey orders and back the youth-led protests, which began on September 25 and pose the most serious challenge to Rajoelina’s rule since his re-election in 2023.

A Reuters witness saw three people injured after shots were fired along a road to the CAPSAT barracks on Sunday.

Other witnesses said there was no sign of ongoing clashes.

A statement from Rajoelina’s office said it “wishes to inform the nation and the international community that

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