đ Share this article Troops from specialized Capsat unit join protests against the nation's leader A multitude of protesters against the nation's leader were joined on the avenues of the main city on Saturday by soldiers from an specialized army unit, who that morning stated they would not shoot at protesters. Proceeding Alongside Military Cars Activists walked with troops from the Capsat squadron, who operated armored cars, some waving the country's banners, from their barracks in Soanierana in the southern part of Antananarivo. Appealing to the Crowds A Capsat officer, Lylison RenĂ© de Rolland, then spoke to the cheering crowds in front of the municipal building in 13 May Square, which protesters had previously been denied entry to. Capsat soldiers installed the present head of state, Andry Rajoelina, to power in a seizure of power in 2009. Increasing Pressure on the Leader The military's involvement escalated tension on Rajoelina, who protesters have been calling for stand down. The young people-led protests broke out on 25 September, initially over service disruptions. However, they quickly widened into calls for a comprehensive overhaul of the governance structure, with the youth protesters not satisfied by Rajoelina removing his cabinet last week. Law Enforcement Measures That morning, security forces fired disorientation devices and chemical irritants to try to disperse the protesters. The freshly assigned minister of the armed forces also called on troops to "keep peaceful", at a media briefing on Saturday. "We call on our comrades who disagree with us to emphasize communication," military minister Deramasinjaka Manantsoa Rakotoarivelo declared. "The Malagasy army remains a intermediary and forms the nation's final safeguard." Military Opposition However, a Capsat officer supported by a significant number of troops urged other troop formations to "refuse orders to attack your comrades", in a footage that was posted on digital networks before they departed from their base. "We must combine efforts, military, gendarmes and law enforcement, and decline compensation to fire upon our allies, our brothers and our compatriots," he declared, also urging military personnel at the airfield to "prevent all aircraft from departing". "Close the access points and await our orders," he stated. "Ignore directives from your commanders. Direct your arms at those who command you to fire on your comrades-in-arms, because they will not support our relatives if we are killed." Head of State's Inactivity No updates has been shared on the president's online profiles since Friday evening, when he was photographed conferring with the heads of 10 of the country's higher education institutions to discuss improving students' lives. Protester Apprehensions An demonstrator who joined the Saturday rallies said she was concerned about the involvement of Capsat, due to their role in the 2009 seizure of power that brought Rajoelina to authority. She also condemned politicians who made short speeches to the masses in front of the municipal building as "opportunists". "For this purpose I'm not rejoicing at all, because all of those people circling this 'event' are all concerning," stated the activist, who declined to give her name for fear for her security. Gen Z Outlook A representative of the youth movement, a decentralized collective of youth that has supported the arrangement of the protests, also raised questions about what would happen next. "We feel pleased, but significant events are unfolding [and] we don't want another untrustworthy person to assume control here, so we will employ all means to have the opportunity to choose who to put up there," he commented.