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Thousands of protesters against the nation's leader were joined on the streets of the main city on the afternoon of Saturday by troops from an specialized army division, who previously that day stated they would not fire on activists.

Advancing With Armored Transports

Demonstrators proceeded together with military personnel from the Capsat division, who operated military transports, some waving Madagascar flags, from their barracks in Soanierana in the southern part of Antananarivo.

Addressing the Masses

A Capsat commander, Lylison René de Rolland, then appealed to the enthusiastic masses in front of the municipal building in 13 May Square, which activists had previously been blocked from accessing. Capsat soldiers brought the present president, Andry Rajoelina, to leadership in a seizure of power in 2009.

Raising Strain on the Head of State

The troops' participation increased pressure on Rajoelina, who activists have been calling for resign. The young people-led rallies commenced on 25 September, originally over utility shortages. However, they quickly widened into appeals for a comprehensive restructuring of the political system, with the gen Z activists not placated by Rajoelina firing his government last week.

Police Actions

Earlier in the day, police used disorientation devices and teargas to try to scatter the protesters. The newly named defense minister also appealed to military personnel to "remain calm", at a press conference on Saturday.

"We urge our comrades who are against us to emphasize dialogue," military minister Deramasinjaka Manantsoa Rakotoarivelo declared. "Our nation's military continues to be a peacemaker and constitutes the state's ultimate protection."

Army Resistance

However, a Capsat leader supported by a sizable contingent of soldiers appealed to other troop formations to "reject directives to shoot your friends", in a recording that was published on social media before they left their barracks.

"We must combine efforts, troops, security forces and law enforcement, and decline compensation to shoot our allies, our colleagues and our sisters," he said, also calling on soldiers at the aviation hub to "stop all aircraft from taking off".

"Secure the entrances and wait for our orders," he declared. "Ignore directives from your officers. Direct your weapons at those who command you to shoot at your comrades-in-arms, because they will not take care of our relatives if we die."

President's Inactivity

Nothing has been shared on the leader's online profiles since Friday night, when he was photographed meeting the heads of 10 of the nation's colleges to talk about bettering educational conditions.

Protester Concerns

An demonstrator who attended that day's rallies said she was apprehensive about the involvement of Capsat, due to their involvement in the 2009 takeover that installed Rajoelina to leadership. She also criticised political figures who made brief speeches to the masses in front of the city hall as "those seeking advantage".

"This is the reason I'm not feeling joyful at all, because all of those individuals gravitating around this 'event' are all dangerous," commented the demonstrator, who didn't want to be named for apprehension for her security.

Gen Z Perspective

A member of Gen Z Madagascar, a non-hierarchical organization of young people that has helped to coordinate the protests, also expressed doubts about what would occur subsequently. "We are delighted, but a lot is happening [and] we don't want another corrupted figure to assume control here, so we will employ all means to have the opportunity to elect who to put up there," he said.