The Minister of Armed Forces in Madagascar acknowledged on Sunday a new army commander appointed by a rebellious military unit supporting protests demanding the resignation of President Andry Rajoelina, who warned of an illegal attempt to seize power.

The rebellious “KAPSAT” unit (Personnel and Administrative and Technical Services Regiment) announced on Sunday its control over all military forces in Madagascar. Soldiers from the unit clashed with gendarmerie forces outside a barracks and entered the city in military vehicles to join protesters who warmly welcomed them and called on Rajoelina to resign. The unit declared in a video statement, “From now on, all orders of the Malagasy army—whether land, air, or naval—will be issued from the KAPSAT headquarters.”

The Minister of Armed Forces, Manantsua Déramasinjaka Rakotovao, congratulated the new army commander, General Demosthenes Bicolas, who told reporters after the ceremony that the events unfolding in Madagascar over the past few days were “unexpected.” He added, “Therefore, the army has the responsibility to restore calm and peace in Madagascar.”

When asked if he was calling on President Rajoelina to step down, the new chief of staff expressed “refusal to discuss political matters inside a military facility.”

Last week, Rajoelina appointed Rakotovao as Minister of Armed Forces after dismissing the cabinet in an attempt to calm the near-daily protests that have been ongoing since September 25 on the Indian Ocean island. Colonel Mikail Randrianirina of KAPSAT emphasized that his unit’s decision to join the protesters does not amount to a coup. He said, “We have responded to the people’s calls, but this is not a coup.” He added, “I can describe the situation as chaos, but it is chaos not caused by the army,” accusing the president of causing it.

President Rajoelina condemned the “attempt to illegally and forcibly seize power.” (Agencies)