End to Madagascar Coup Attempt

Soldiers loyal to the president stormed barracks occupied by officers involved in the attempted coup.
End to Madagascar Coup Attempt
Andry Rajoelina casts his vote at a local polling station in Antananarivo on Nov. 17, 2010. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images)
Jasper Fakkert
11/21/2010
Updated:
10/1/2015
<a><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/09/106925477.jpg" alt="Andry Rajoelina casts his vote at a local polling station in Antananarivo on Nov. 17, 2010. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images)" title="Andry Rajoelina casts his vote at a local polling station in Antananarivo on Nov. 17, 2010. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-1811868"/></a>
Andry Rajoelina casts his vote at a local polling station in Antananarivo on Nov. 17, 2010. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images)
An attempted coup on the island nation of Madagascar off the southeast coast of Africa, was brought to an end Saturday afternoon when around 200 soldiers loyal to the president stormed barracks occupied by officers involved in the attempted coup, according to The Madagascar Tribune.

According to Prime Minister Camille Vital, the 16 officers involved in the coup were arrested without bloodshed.

Local newspapers however reported that gunshots were heard when soldiers stormed the barracks.

The current president of the transitional government, Andry Rajoelina himself came to power after a coup last year. Under Rajoelina’s control the island nation has remained unstable.

Military officers staged the coup last week on the day of a constitutional referendum to decide whether to give Rajoelina more power including the right to be president-for-life.

Western governments and the African Union rejected the referendum calling on Rajoelina to come to an agreement with opposition groups.
Jasper Fakkert is the Editor-in-chief of the U.S. editions of The Epoch Times. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication Science and a Master's degree in Journalism. Twitter: @JasperFakkert