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A multitude of protesters opposing Madagascar's leader were supported on the streets of the capital on the afternoon of Saturday by troops from an elite army unit, who earlier in the day said they would not fire on activists.

Proceeding With Armored Cars

Demonstrators marched together with soldiers from the Capsat unit, who piloted heavy cars, some displaying Madagascar flags, from their barracks in Soanierana in the southern part of Antananarivo.

Addressing the Gathering

A Capsat commander, Lylison René de Rolland, then addressed the supportive crowds in front of the municipal building in 13 May Square, which demonstrators had previously been blocked from accessing. Capsat troops installed the present leader, Andry Rajoelina, to power in a coup in 2009.

Raising Tension on the Leader

The soldiers' intervention increased tension on Rajoelina, who activists have been calling for stand down. The student-led demonstrations broke out on 25 September, at first over utility shortages. However, they rapidly widened into calls for a comprehensive reform of the political system, with the younger generation activists not appeased by Rajoelina firing his administration last week.

Law Enforcement Response

Earlier in the day, police deployed disorientation devices and chemical irritants to try to disperse the activists. The newly named military affairs minister also urged military personnel to "remain calm", at a press conference on Saturday.

"We call on our colleagues who disagree with us to emphasize dialogue," military minister Deramasinjaka Manantsoa Rakotoarivelo stated. "The Malagasy army continues to be a peacemaker and forms the state's final safeguard."

Military Opposition

However, a Capsat commander supported by a large group of military personnel called on other military units to "refuse orders to shoot your friends", in a video that was published on digital networks before they departed from their base.

"We must combine efforts, army, security forces and law enforcement, and reject payment to shoot our allies, our brothers and our compatriots," he declared, also urging soldiers at the airport to "stop all aircraft from leaving".

"Shut the access points and await our instructions," he declared. "Ignore commands from your commanders. Direct your arms at those who order you to shoot at your military brothers, because they will not support our loved ones if we are killed."

Leader's Inactivity

No information has been shared on the leader's online profiles since Friday evening, when he was pictured discussing with the directors of 10 of the country's universities to talk about bettering educational conditions.

Demonstrator Concerns

An activist who participated in that day's demonstrations stated she was worried about the participation of Capsat, due to their role in the 2009 coup that propelled Rajoelina to power. She also denounced politicians who made quick statements to the crowds in front of the town hall as "those seeking advantage".

"That's why I'm not celebrating at all, because all of those figures circling this 'event' are all concerning," stated the protester, who declined to give her name for apprehension for her safety.

Youth Outlook

A representative of the young activists, a decentralized organization of young people that has supported the arrangement of the protests, also expressed doubts about what would happen next. "We feel pleased, but a lot is happening [and] we do not desire another untrustworthy individual to gain authority here, so we will take all measures to have the opportunity to elect who to install in leadership," he commented.