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Thousands of protesters opposing Madagascar's president were supported on the streets of the capital on Saturday by troops from an premier army squadron, who earlier in the day stated they would not shoot at demonstrators.

Marching Alongside Heavy Cars

Protesters marched with troops from the Capsat squadron, who piloted armored transports, some brandishing the country's banners, from their base in Soanierana in the southern part of Antananarivo.

Addressing the Masses

A Capsat officer, Lylison René de Rolland, then addressed the cheering crowds in front of the municipal building in 13 May Square, which protesters had earlier been blocked from accessing. Capsat soldiers brought the present leader, Andry Rajoelina, to leadership in a seizure of power in 2009.

Escalating Tension on the Leader

The soldiers' involvement escalated pressure on Rajoelina, who activists have been insisting on stand down. The young people-led rallies broke out on 25 September, initially over service disruptions. However, they swiftly broadened into calls for a total reform of the political system, with the younger generation activists not placated by Rajoelina dismissing his administration last week.

Security Forces Measures

Earlier in the day, security forces used flashbangs and chemical irritants to try to scatter the demonstrators. The freshly assigned minister of the armed forces also urged military personnel to "stay composed", at a news conference on Saturday.

"We appeal to our comrades who are against us to focus on communication," general minister Deramasinjaka Manantsoa Rakotoarivelo stated. "The Malagasy army continues to be a peacemaker and constitutes the nation's last line of defence."

Army Resistance

However, a Capsat leader supported by a large group of soldiers appealed to other troop formations to "reject directives to shoot your allies", in a recording that was posted on digital networks before they departed from their base.

"We must combine efforts, troops, security forces and police, and reject payment to fire upon our friends, our brothers and our compatriots," he stated, also appealing to military personnel at the aviation hub to "block all flights from taking off".

"Shut the entrances and expect our directions," he stated. "Ignore orders from your officers. Point your firearms at those who instruct you to fire on your comrades-in-arms, because they will not support our relatives if we die."

President's Silence

No updates has been published on the leader's digital platforms since Friday night, when he was seen discussing with the heads of 10 of the country's higher education institutions to address improving students' lives.

Demonstrator Concerns

An demonstrator who attended the Saturday rallies said she was concerned about the participation of Capsat, due to their part in the 2009 coup that propelled Rajoelina to leadership. She also criticised government officials who made short statements to the masses in front of the town hall as "those seeking advantage".

"This is the reason I'm not celebrating at all, because all of those figures gravitating around this 'event' are all dangerous," commented the demonstrator, who declined to give her name for concern for her well-being.

Youth Viewpoint

A participant of the youth movement, a leaderless collective of students that has assisted in organizing the protests, also expressed doubts about what would occur subsequently. "We feel pleased, but many developments are occurring [and] we do not desire another untrustworthy figure to assume control here, so we will employ all means to have the right to select who to install in leadership," he commented.