Madagascar's President Flees Saying Life Was in Danger

Watch Madagascar's President Flees Saying Life Was in Danger - Bloomberg on Dailymotion

Transcript

00:00Well, this is quite a fascinating development in Madagascar.

00:03What do we know about the leader's whereabouts?

00:09Good morning, Jumana.

00:10So yesterday's speculation was rife that the president had actually fled the country,

00:14but there was no official communication.

00:16He was scheduled to do a national address later in the evening at about 7 p.m.

00:20And when that kept being pushed forward, then tension was beginning to rise.

00:24And in a Facebook live address, he confirmed that he had actually fled the country

00:28in order to protect his life.

00:30And what he's saying is that there's an attempt on his life,

00:33and this is a plot by the military and several politicians.

00:37And so he took a helicopter to an island,

00:39and then he was evacuated to a safe location with the help of French military.

00:43Many were expecting him to actually announce his resignation,

00:46but just like you said, he said he's still in charge and he's still running the country.

00:50But then how is he doing that?

00:52Because he dissolved government.

00:53He's only named three ministers in the new administration.

00:56The prime minister that he named did not really go well with the people.

01:01The military has revolted against him.

01:03They've announced that they are now in charge, particularly the cap-sat unit.

01:07And also people are against him.

01:09The opposition is saying they're going to table a motion against him.

01:11So he's really in a tough sport.

01:15And how did these protests snowball into calls for the president's resignation?

01:19Do you want to, for context, Madagascar is a very poor country.

01:25Three out of four people live in poverty,

01:27and two-thirds of the country do not have access to electricity.

01:30And this is some of the issues that led to that protest.

01:32They were protesting electricity shortage, water shortage.

01:34But in four weeks, it became something bigger.

01:37It became about cost of living.

01:38It became about unemployment.

01:40It became about corruption in the country.

01:42And this is some of the factors that led people to go out in the streets.

01:46And the turning point was when cap-sat, a military unit, joined them.

01:50And now things have escalated far beyond what the president had ever imagined.