Air France has halted flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport and Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, due to worsening security conditions in the country. The suspension, effective from October 11 to 13, was officially announced by the airline. Air France stated that it is actively monitoring the situation in collaboration with relevant authorities and will consider the possibility of resuming flights based on daily security evaluations. The airline emphasized that any decision to resume operations will be contingent upon daily security assessments.
Passengers impacted by the flight cancellations will be provided with options for rebooking or refunds, according to Air France.
The decision to suspend flights by Air France coincides with political turmoil in Madagascar, where the government has accused elements within the military of plotting to overthrow the administration. President Andry Rajoelina’s office issued a statement on Sunday alerting the public about an ongoing attempt to illegally seize power. Reports indicated that members of the elite CAPSAT unit had joined anti-government protests, despite the unit’s historical role in supporting Rajoelina during a coup in 2009. Over the weekend, CAPSAT officers called on fellow soldiers to defy government directives and back the protesters. By Sunday, CAPSAT officers declared that they had assumed control of the nation’s security operations and appointed General Demosthene Pikulas, the former head of Madagascar’s military academy, as the new army chief.
The civil unrest, initially sparked by grassroots demonstrations on September 25 over water and electricity shortages, has evolved into a nationwide movement demanding President Rajoelina’s resignation. Protesters are also advocating for the dissolution of the Senate and the electoral commission, as well as justice for recent acts of violence against civilians.
Despite the escalating situation, President Rajoelina’s office affirmed on Saturday that both the president and prime minister are “fully in charge of the nation’s affairs.” Nevertheless, as of Sunday, the president’s exact whereabouts remained unknown, prompting speculation that he may have left the country.