Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina survived an assassination attempt, the prosecutor general’s office has said.
Authorities say they have foiled a conspiracy against President Rajoelina, with several “foreign and Malagasy” suspects arrested.
The public security minister on Wednesday said that six people including one foreigner, two binationals, and three Madagascan citizens.
The statement said, “the police had information for several months, but only now was there an opportunity to arrest them.”
Rajoelina was sworn in as president in 2019 after a hotly contested election and a constitutional court challenge from his challenger.
In a statement on Tuesday, Prosecutor Berthine Razafiarivony said “several foreign and Madagascar nationals were arrested on Tuesday, July 20, as part of an investigation into an attack on state security.”
“According to the evidence in our possession, these individuals had devised a plan for the elimination and neutralisation of a number of people including the head of state,” the statement read.
Although the extent of the assassination plot was not clear, investigations are underway and the authorities are yet to offer further details.
During the country’s Independence Day celebrations on 26 June, Madagascar’s gendarmerie announced that they had foiled an assassination attempt on their boss General Richard Ravalomanana, who is considered the president’s man Friday.