Army general among 13 facing charges in alleged Madagascar coup plot

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Prosecutors in Madagascar said Thursday that 13 people, including a general, were facing charges over an alleged plot to assassinate the island nation's interim leader, Colonel Michael Randrianirina.

Randrianirina seized power in October following youth-led protests that forced out his predecessor, Andry Rajoelina.

Public prosecutor Narindra Navalona Rakotoniaina said 11 suspects had been taken into custody and arrest warrants had been issued for others in connection with the alleged plot to kill the 52-year-old leader.

"It should be noted that senior officers are among those implicated in this case, including a general who has already spoken out publicly and expressed his intention to participate in a coup d'etat," she said.

Rakotoniaina did not name the general but said Colonel Patrick Rakotomamonjy was among those who had "conceived and organised" the operation.

Rakotomamonjy worked as a director in the presidency until his dismissal in January.

Investigators had uncovered WhatsApp messages between the suspects, and some had admitted funds in their accounts were used to finance the plot, the prosecutor said.

Searches also found large sums of money and weapons in the suspects' homes.

The alleged plot comes against a backdrop of political upheaval after massive protests over water and power shortages forced former president Rajoelina to flee the country.

Randrianirina, whose army unit backed the protesters, has pledged elections by late 2027, though his first cabinet drew criticism for including figures from the political elite.

In March, he announced a new government after dismissing his cabinet earlier in the month, still without representatives of the Gen Z youth movement that helped topple Rajoelina.