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Thousands of protesters in opposition to the nation's president were accompanied on the roads of the capital city on Saturday afternoon by soldiers from an premier army division, who earlier in the day said they would not fire on activists.

Marching With Heavy Vehicles

Demonstrators marched together with soldiers from the Capsat squadron, who drove military cars, some displaying national flags, from their headquarters in Soanierana in the southern district of Antananarivo.

Speaking to the Crowds

A Capsat officer, Lylison René de Rolland, then addressed the cheering crowds in front of the municipal building in 13 May Square, which activists had previously been denied entry to. Capsat military personnel installed the incumbent president, Andry Rajoelina, to authority in a coup in 2009.

Raising Strain on the President

The troops' involvement ratcheted up strain on Rajoelina, who protesters have been calling for resign. The student-led demonstrations commenced on 25 September, originally over water and electricity cuts. However, they quickly expanded into demands for a comprehensive reform of the political system, with the younger generation activists not placated by Rajoelina dismissing his administration last week.

Security Forces Measures

That morning, police fired stun grenades and teargas to try to break up the demonstrators. The recently appointed military affairs minister also urged troops to "stay composed", at a press conference on Saturday.

"We appeal to our colleagues who oppose us to emphasize communication," general minister Deramasinjaka Manantsoa Rakotoarivelo declared. "Madagascar's armed forces is still a peacemaker and forms the nation's ultimate protection."

Military Defiance

However, a Capsat leader joined by a large group of troops appealed to other military units to "disobey commands to attack your comrades", in a footage that was shared on online platforms before they exited their headquarters.

"We must combine efforts, military, paramilitary and police, and decline compensation to fire upon our friends, our comrades and our fellow citizens," he declared, also calling on soldiers at the airfield to "block all planes from taking off".

"Close the entrances and await our directions," he stated. "Disregard directives from your superiors. Point your firearms at those who instruct you to shoot at your military brothers, because they will not take care of our loved ones if we perish."

President's Silence

Nothing has been shared on the leader's online profiles since Friday night, when he was photographed conferring with the heads of 10 of the nation's universities to talk about enhancing educational conditions.

Activist Concerns

An demonstrator who participated in that day's demonstrations said she was concerned about the participation of Capsat, due to their part in the 2009 seizure of power that propelled Rajoelina to power. She also condemned politicians who made brief addresses to the gathering in front of the city hall as "opportunists".

"This is the reason I'm not celebrating at all, because all of those figures involved in this 'development' are all dangerous," said the demonstrator, who declined to give her name for apprehension for her security.

Young Generation Outlook

A member of the young activists, a leaderless collective of youth that has assisted in organizing the rallies, also raised questions about what would transpire in the future. "We feel pleased, but a lot is happening [and] we do not desire another corrupted figure to take the power here, so we will employ all means to have the right to select who to put up there," he said.