Madagascar: Court postpones to Feb. 06 ruling against top army commanders accused of alleged military coup

The judge of a court in Madagascar has postponed to February 06 the ruling on the fate of two colonels of the Army in detention since November 2023 over their alleged plot to carry out a military coup, several days before the presidential polls of November 16.

The two high ranking officers whose identities have not been revealed are detained at the central prison of Tsiafahy.

Their arrest came following a surveillance and suspicion that they tried to convince several other high-ranking officers of various sections of the security apparatus of the African country to prevent the holding of November 16 elections and to remove the regime of President Andry Rajoelina.

They appeared in court on January 16. They have been charged with fomenting a coup and with recruiting soldiers. The country went to presidential polls on November 16 in the backdrop of violence that marked the electoral campaigns. A coalition of several opposition members including two former Presidents challenged Rajoelina in the electoral race.

The independent electoral body, CENI, credited Rajoelina with 58.95 per cent of the votes, making him winner of the elections.
It is unclear if the arrested officers are in league with the opposition.