Madagascar’s military have seized control of the country after weeks of Gen Z-led protests that peaked over the weekend. Army Colonel Michael Randrianirina of the CAPSAT unit announced on national radio that the military had taken power and dissolved all state institutions except the lower house of parliament.

The move followed parliament’s vote to impeach President Andry Rajoelina, who had fled the country citing threats to his life. Rajoelina had dissolved the National Assembly in an apparent bid to block the impeachment vote. The military said it would form a committee of army, gendarmerie, and police officers to assume presidential functions and later appoint a civilian government. Madagascar’s presidency condemned the takeover as an attempted coup, insisting Rajoelina remained in office.

Protests, which began on September 25 over power and water shortages, had evolved into calls for Rajoelina and his ministers to resign, with sections of the security forces joining demonstrators. The High Constitutional Court later declared the presidency vacant, authorizing the military to assume power.