President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar said in a speech published online Monday that he was sheltering in an undisclosed location after weeks of bloody protests that had thrown this deeply impoverished southern African island nation into chaos.
The announcement was the latest chapter of upheaval for the mineral-rich nation, where protesters denounced Mr. Rajolina’s government for its failure to provide basic necessities like electricity and water. The move by the president came after Madagascar’s security forces — which initially had led a violent crackdown on the protests — joined the youth-led demonstrators and said they would no longer take orders from their superiors.
As residents waited for Mr. Rajoelina to deliver a national address on Monday, the mood was festive in the capital, Antananarivo, with most anticipating his resignation.
Thousands gathered at May 13 Square, a center of protest in front of City Hall, where vendors peddled fruit, grilled meat and ice cream.
The crowd waved Malagasy flags and chanted songs, including one that used an expletive to call for Mr. Rajoelina to step down. A large banner with the anime skull and bones that has become a symbol of Gen Z protests worldwide hung next to a stage. Speakers from student groups, workers unions and other activists rallied the crowd.
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