Madagascar Arrests 21 New Suspects Over Coup Plot

Madagascar has arrested 21 more suspects connected to the planned coup to kill President Andry Rajoelina and topple the government, a senior prosecutor said.

According to Reuters, the suspects included 12 military personnel, four retired foreigners and five civilians some of whom were being held in police custody.

Six people were arrested last month, one of which was a French citizen, on suspicion of involvement in the plot, following what officials described as a months-long investigation in the Indian Ocean island.

Berthine Razafiarivony, of the Antananarivo court of appeal, revealed on Sunday that the military personnel who were arrested included five generals from the army and the gendarmerie and two captains and five non-commissioned officers, whose identities she withheld.

“The physical evidence in the hands of the investigators is tangible and made it possible to identify the main instigators of the operation,” Razafiarivony said.

President Rajoelina first seized power in the former French colony of 26 million in a March 2009 coup, ousting Marc Ravalomanana.

He remained in control at the head of a transitional government until 2014. Ravalomanana challenged Rajoelina in the 2018 elections but lost.

S.S/Reuters