Madagascar’s President faces impeachment threat amid reports he has fled the country

Madagascar’s embattled President Andry Rajoelina is facing the threat of impeachment for “abandonment of post”

Reports say he has fled the country after a powerful military unit backed protesters demanding his resignation

Rajoelina is due to address the nation later, though it is unclear from where

He said in a statement on Sunday that an attempt to seize power illegally was under way

A senior Army General says the security forces are working together to maintain order in the island nation

Hundreds of protesters have gathered in the capital to ramp up pressure on the President to resign

This follows more than two weeks of youth-led protests over high unemployment, the cost of living and corruption

Meanwhile, Christian Ntsay, Rajoelina’s former Prime Minister, and Maminiaina Ravatomanga, a businessman close to Rajoelina, flew to Mauritius “urgently” early on Sunday, the Mauritian government has said.

In a statement, it denied interfering in Madagascar’s affairs, adding it was “not satisfied” with how the plane was authorised to land in the country.

President Rajoelina had sacked Ntsay in a failed attempt to placate demonstrators angry about chronic water and power cuts, corruption, and the high cost of living.

Meanwhile, protesters had called for Ravatomanga to be investigated. They view him as a symbol of the political and economic elite that has prospered at the expense of ordinary citizens