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head of an elite group madagascar military unit dispersed African The island nation’s president has staged a coup, ending weeks of youth-led protests over water and electricity cuts, the high cost of living and endemic poverty, among other issues.
Colonel Michel Randrianarina, who led the rebellion that ousted President Andry Rajoelina, told The Associated Press in his first interview with a global news agency since taking power on Tuesday that he will be sworn in as Madagascar’s next president in the next few days.
Here’s how photographer Brian Inganga and video journalist Nqobile Ntshangase secured a sit-down with Randrianarina and broke the news.
Inganga, which is located in kenyaA brief meeting with the leader of the CAPSAT military unit set the table for a final interview as he took photographs at an anti-government protest in a square in Madagascar’s capital on Tuesday. Here’s his account of how he achieved it.
meeting the colonel
When a line of armored vehicles arrived and stood at the crowded intersection, the cheering became deafening. They were all black but one caught my attention because he was surrounded by about 10 soldiers armed with AK-style assault rifles and grenade launchers.
I asked my interpreter what was happening. He replied: “The Colonel is coming.”
He meant Colonel Michael Randrianarina, the leader of the military rebellion against Rajoelina and a man who became famous among anti-government protesters after joining their demonstrations over the weekend.
I pushed past the protesters and moved towards the car, trying to avoid the sight of the soldiers present nearby. I had just reached him when a door at the back opened and Randrianirina, wearing a camouflage cap, poked her head out. I introduced myself as an AP reporter and asked for an interview. She said not yet, so I asked for her number. He agreed. I gave him my cellphone and he punched in his number and then, surrounded by his soldiers, went to a stage and greeted the protesters.
I didn’t know it at the time, but after this stopover Randrianari was going to announce that the military was taking power, confirming at the same moment that Rajoelina had been ousted in a coup.
enter the barracks
I don’t remember exactly how many times I called the Colonel’s number on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, but it was more than a dozen. Eventually they replied and said they remembered me as that young person. American Press. I asked again about the interview and he agreed, saying that I could come to CAPSAT’s barracks with my TV colleague Nkobile and our interpreter.
We identified ourselves at the security gate outside the barracks and were allowed inside. It was busier than any other military barracks I’ve been to. There were many soldiers.
We were pointed towards a building where the Colonel’s office is on the first floor but the soldiers stopped us at the bottom of the stairs. Others lined up to get into the building, including people in suits who looked like politicians and even a priest and an imam. I think he was waiting to meet the country’s new military leader.
The soldiers were not allowing us to go up the stairs, so I called the Colonel again. A message came down and we were allowed to go up. But at the top of the stairs, another group of soldiers stopped us. Fortunately, I recognized another military officer who had been with Randrianarina the day before. He also recognized me and vouched for us, and we were ushered into the Colonel’s office.
Interview
The office was big. There was a soldier at the door and the colonel was sitting on a black sofa, two of his officers were sitting on another sofa next to him. He appeared to be having an important meeting, but when he saw me he smiled and said to me, “You’ve been calling a lot! Too many phone calls!”
I was probably a little nervous, unsure what to expect in the office of a coup leader who had announced the day before that he was taking control of a country. The colonel understood this and told me not to be afraid. He laughed and told us, “I’m not a monster.”
He said that he has an important appointment soon and hence we do not have much time. We prepared as quickly as we could and asked our questions. What were his next steps? He told us he is going to be president and expects to be sworn in at a ceremony in the next few days, leading to news that he intends to become Madagascar’s next leader.
After the interview, he and two of his officers also agreed to be photographed with us.
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More AP news on Madagascar’s military coup: https://apnews.com/hub/madagascar