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Numerous protesters opposing the nation's president were supported on the avenues of the capital on Saturday by military personnel from an specialized army division, who that morning stated they would not fire on activists.

Proceeding Together with Heavy Cars

Demonstrators proceeded alongside soldiers from the Capsat squadron, who piloted heavy transports, some waving national flags, from their base in Soanierana in the southern district of Antananarivo.

Appealing to the Gathering

A Capsat leader, Lylison René de Rolland, then appealed to the enthusiastic gathering in front of the city hall in 13 May Square, which demonstrators had before been blocked from accessing. Capsat soldiers installed the present president, Andry Rajoelina, to leadership in a coup in 2009.

Raising Tension on the President

The military's participation escalated tension on Rajoelina, who activists have been demanding resign. The youth-led protests broke out on 25 September, initially over service disruptions. However, they swiftly widened into calls for a complete restructuring of the governance structure, with the youth demonstrators not appeased by Rajoelina firing his government last week.

Law Enforcement Measures

That morning, law enforcement deployed disorientation devices and chemical irritants to try to scatter the protesters. The newly named minister of the armed forces also urged soldiers to "remain calm", at a news conference on Saturday.

"We call on our brothers who disagree with us to focus on communication," general minister Deramasinjaka Manantsoa Rakotoarivelo stated. "Madagascar's armed forces remains a intermediary and constitutes the country's last line of defence."

Army Opposition

However, a Capsat leader supported by a sizable contingent of soldiers called on other troop formations to "refuse orders to attack your allies", in a footage that was posted on digital networks before they exited their barracks.

"Let us join forces, troops, gendarmes and officers, and reject payment to attack our friends, our colleagues and our fellow citizens," he stated, also calling on military personnel at the aviation hub to "block all aircraft from taking off".

"Secure the entrances and wait for our directions," he said. "Do not obey directives from your superiors. Aim your arms at those who order you to attack your military brothers, because they will not look after our relatives if we perish."

President's Silence

Nothing has been published on the president's digital platforms since Friday night, when he was photographed meeting the heads of 10 of the nation's universities to discuss enhancing students' lives.

Activist Worries

An protester who participated in Saturday's protests stated she was apprehensive about the participation of Capsat, due to their involvement in the 2009 coup that installed Rajoelina to authority. She also criticised government officials who made quick addresses to the masses in front of the municipal building as "self-serving individuals".

"For this purpose I'm not celebrating at all, because all of those people circling this 'development' are all risky," stated the protester, who declined to give her name for fear for her safety.

Youth Perspective

A member of the youth movement, a leaderless organization of young people that has helped to coordinate the protests, also expressed doubts about what would happen next. "We are delighted, but a lot is happening [and] we don't want another untrustworthy person to assume control here, so we will take all measures to have the opportunity to select who to install in leadership," he said.