Madagascar’s besieged President Andry Rajoelina on Monday twice pushed back his long-awaited national address, deepening uncertainty over his whereabouts after days of protests calling for his resignation.

Rajoelina has faced the most serious test to his presidency since taking office, with weeks of deadly street protests and a mutinous army unit openly defying his authority.

The 51-year-old leader has not appeared in public since last Wednesday and is believed to have fled the country aboard a French military plane, according to Radio France Internationale. French authorities did not respond immediately to AFP’s request for confirmation.

Rajoelina was due speak to the nation at 7:00 pm (1600 GMT), but it was delayed by an hour and half after “a group of armed forces threatened to take

See Full Page