If their military headgear – red beret or cap – had not been firmly in place on their heads, these officers would probably have been nervously fiddling with them. After all, they did not seem entirely confident as they approached the steps of one of the two presidential offices in Antananarivo, Madagascar's capital, early afternoon on Tuesday, October 14, to declare they were seizing power. Arriving at high speed in a handful of armored vehicles, they entered the compound after parking their vehicles outside.

Their troops, just as tense, were deployed in the street, with weapons pointed every which way. And so, five officers declared their decision to overthrow the Malagasy president, Andry Rajoelina. "We are taking power from today and dissolving the Senate and the High Constitutional Court," said Colonel Michael Randrianirina, the only easily identifiable officer since his earlier speech delivered from his unit's military camp, the CAPSAT (Corps d'armée des personnels et des services administratifs et techniques) to the South of the capital – a speech that accelerated the unfolding events in Madagascar.

You have 84.97% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.