Members of the Madagascar CAPSAT military open the gates of the presidential palace in Antananarivo on Tuesday.

An elite military unit has claimed power in Madagascar after weeks of anti-government street protests and the sudden departure of its President to an unknown foreign location.

If the military takeover is confirmed, it will be the latest in a long series of coups in African countries over the past several years. Military forces have exploited street protests and widespread public discontent to seize power and install their allies into government in countries such as Sudan, Mali, Zimbabwe, Niger, Burkina Faso and now Madagascar.

Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina denounced the takeover as an illegal coup d’état, but it was unclear whether he had any levers to stop the military

See Full Page