LUSAKA, Zambia

Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina's office said on Sunday an attempt to seize State power illegally was underway, a day after troops from an army unit sided with anti-government protesters.

"There is an attempt to seize power at this time in the territory of the Republic, in complete violation of the Constitution and democratic principles," a presidential statement said on Sunday.

In a video statement on Saturday, troops from the Army Personnel Administration Center (CAPSAT), a military unit instrumental in Rajoelina's rise to power through a 2009 coup, declared its support for the anti-government protests that began last month.

“This country is facing a collapse of basic services, security forces must not follow blindly unlawful orders,” they said.

Today, CAPSAT officers, in a video message, said that they will take control of the armed forces, saying: "From now on, all orders of the Malagasy army – whether land, air or the navy – will originate from CAPSAT headquarters."

The presidency, however, condemned what Rajoelina called an attempted illegal and forcible seizure of power to destabilize the country and called on the nation's key forces to unite in defending constitutional order and national sovereignty.

In a statement on the US social media company X on Sunday, the African Union Commission (AUC) said its chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, was following with deep concern the political and security developments in the Indian Ocean island nation, marked by movements within the army and demonstrations in Antananarivo, the country’s capital.

"He calls upon all Malagasy parties to demonstrate responsibility and patriotism and work towards the preservation of unity, stability and peace in the country, in full respect of the Constitution and established institutional frameworks," the statement said.

Protests against Rajoelina's administration have been ongoing for three weeks, led by "Gen Z" protesters in what started as a concern about water and electricity shortages, turning into calls for Rajoelina to resign.