Antananarivo, Madagascar: Madagascar’s former President Andry Rajoelina has confirmed his departure from the country following a military-backed power seizure that has been prompted by weeks of demonstrations.

The crisis in the island nation has intensified as a result of these protests.

Rajoelina departed between October 11 and 12 due to what the presidency described as ‘explicit and extremely serious threats’ against his life.

These threats emerged as he was scheduled to undertake an overseas mission.

Reports suggest that he was evacuated on a French military plane on Sunday, though specifics regarding his current location remain undisclosed.

In a statement issued to AFP late Wednesday, Rajoelina accused the National Assembly of conspiring with the military to remove him from office.

He further claimed that these actions were unconstitutional.

The military officers who have taken control announced that their leader, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, is set to be sworn in as the new president on Friday.

The Gen Z movement, a youth-led initiative that began protesting over issues of lack of water and energy on September 25th, has welcomed the intervention of Randrianirina.

This development follows several other instances where former French colonies have transitioned under military rule since 2020, including Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Gabon, and Guinea.

The international community has expressed concern over these events.

The United Nations criticized what it termed an 'unconstitutional' takeover, leading to the African Union's decision to suspend Madagascar with immediate effect.

This political instability marks a troubling chapter in Madagascar’s recent history.