Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has said he is in a “safe place” after an attempt on his life, following weeks of protests calling for his resignation.
In a live address to the nation on Facebook, Rajoelina, 51, said that “a group of military personnel and politicians planned to assassinate me.”
He did not disclose his location, though unconfirmed reports earlier suggested that he may have left the country on a French military aircraft.
The development comes after two weeks of nationwide demonstrations, largely driven by young protesters demanding his departure from office.
Rajoelina’s efforts to respond to the protests, including dismissing his entire government and announcing other measures, have so far failed to ease tensions.
He has not made a public appearance since Wednesday. Over the weekend, his office said there was an ongoing attempt to remove him from power.
His national address was postponed several times on Monday amid growing unrest, as soldiers reportedly threatened to take control of the state television headquarters on the Indian Ocean island.
Eventually, during the Facebook broadcast, Rajoelina said, “Since 25 September, there have been attempts on my life and coup attempts. A group of military personnel and politicians planned to assassinate me. I was forced to find a safe place to protect my life.”
He added that “there is only one way to resolve these issues by respecting the constitution currently in force in the country.”