A faction of Madagascar’s military announced Tuesday that it has seized government power following reports of President Andry Rajoelina’s evacuation from the country. The coup follows weeks of Gen Z protests against high unemployment, the rising cost of living and government corruption.

On national radio, Colonel Michael Randrianirina reportedly stated, “We have taken the power,” and voiced a plan to dissolve all government institutions except the National Assembly– the country’s lower house of parliament.

The “CAPSAT” unit’s government take-over came hours after Rajoelina announced the he wanted to dissolve the National Assembly. Political opponents saw the decree as an unconstitutional attempt to block impeachment proceedings for Rajoelina’s alleged “abandonment

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