Madagascar: Is there a coup, and why has the president fled the country? - Andry Rajoelina has reportedly flown to an undisclosed destination after an elite military group joined violent anti-governme

An elite military unit says it has seized power in Madagascar from President Andry Rajoelina following weeks of youth-led protests in the Indian Ocean island.

Here is a timeline of the major events that led to the takeover of this former French colony off the east coast of Africa.

Madagascar is facing its gravest political crisis in years as weeks of youth-led protests escalated into a military rebellion. President Andry Rajoelina has reportedly fled the country after elite army units and the gendarmerie sided with demonstrators.

MPs have voted to impeach President Andry Rajoelina, who has reportedly fled the country following anti-government protests.

Youth-led protests in the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar are continuing for a third week in the most significant unrest in the country in years.

Andry Rajoelina was toppled in a military coup that capped weeks of youth protests over poverty, power outages, and a lack of opportunity in the Indian Ocean island country.

Madagascar’s president is in hiding after the military sided with protesters frustrated at the dearth of opportunities on the island.

An army unit claimed it had taken over leadership of the military command and was now in control of all the armed forces.

Madagascan President Andry Rajoelina has dissolved the lower house of parliament amid a political crisis. This move follows a military rebellion that forced him to flee the country. An elite