Madagascar’s ousted president confirmed for the first time that he had fled the country, issuing a statement after a military-led power grab prompted by weeks of demonstrations that have plunged the island nation into crisis.

President Andry Rajoelina left between October 11 and 12 after “explicit and extremely serious threats were made against the life of the Head of State,” the presidency said in a statement late Wednesday.

The threats had come when he was due to travel abroad for a mission, the statement sent to AFP said.

Media reports indicated the 51-year-old leader was evacuated on Sunday aboard a French military plane.

On Monday, he said he had taken refuge in a “safe place” without giving further details.

Rajoelina, who first came to power after a military-backed coup in 2009,

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