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Thousands of protesters in opposition to the nation's leader were supported on the streets of the capital city on Saturday by military personnel from an elite army division, who that morning stated they would not fire on protesters.

Marching Together with Military Transports

Protesters proceeded with troops from the Capsat division, who drove heavy cars, some waving Madagascar flags, from their headquarters in Soanierana in the southern district of Antananarivo.

Speaking to the Crowds

A Capsat commander, Lylison René de Rolland, then spoke to the supportive gathering in front of the municipal building in 13 May Square, which demonstrators had before been denied entry to. Capsat soldiers brought the incumbent head of state, Andry Rajoelina, to power in a takeover in 2009.

Raising Tension on the President

The soldiers' involvement ratcheted up pressure on Rajoelina, who activists have been calling for stand down. The student-led rallies commenced on 25 September, at first over utility shortages. However, they quickly widened into appeals for a complete reform of the government system, with the younger generation protesters not placated by Rajoelina dismissing his government last week.

Law Enforcement Actions

That morning, police used disorientation devices and chemical irritants to try to break up the demonstrators. The recently appointed minister of the armed forces also appealed to military personnel to "keep peaceful", at a press conference on Saturday.

"We call on our comrades who oppose us to emphasize dialogue," military minister Deramasinjaka Manantsoa Rakotoarivelo said. "Our nation's military is still a peacemaker and constitutes the country's final safeguard."

Army Defiance

However, a Capsat leader joined by a large group of troops appealed to other military units to "refuse orders to fire upon your friends", in a recording that was posted on social media before they left their barracks.

"Let us join forces, troops, gendarmes and officers, and reject payment to attack our allies, our colleagues and our compatriots," he said, also urging military personnel at the aviation hub to "block all aircraft from departing".

"Shut the gates and expect our orders," he declared. "Disregard directives from your superiors. Point your weapons at those who instruct you to attack your comrades-in-arms, because they will not take care of our families if we are killed."

Head of State's Lack of Response

No updates has been published on the leader's social media accounts since Friday night, when he was seen conferring with the leaders of 10 of the state's universities to talk about enhancing students' lives.

Protester Apprehensions

An protester who attended the Saturday rallies stated she was concerned about the participation of Capsat, due to their involvement in the 2009 takeover that installed Rajoelina to power. She also denounced politicians who made brief speeches to the masses in front of the municipal building as "self-serving individuals".

"This is the reason I'm not feeling joyful at all, because all of those individuals circling this 'situation' are all concerning," said the protester, who didn't want to be named for concern for her security.

Youth Perspective

A participant of the youth movement, a non-hierarchical group of youth that has supported the arrangement of the protests, also voiced concerns about what would occur subsequently. "We are very happy, but significant events are unfolding [and] we wish to avoid another dishonest individual to take the power here, so we will do everything to have the right to select who to put up there," he stated.