Madagascar

[phkrause]

Model makers in Madagascar are bringing history’s long-lost ships back to life

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar (AP) — A French trading ship that sank in the 17th century with treasure onboard is being brought back to life in a workshop in Madagascar with every stroke of Rafah Ralahy’s small wood sander.

https://apnews.com/article/madagascar-model-ships-history-famous-1649d037fe34d3435616721d26eac6c5?

[phkrause]

Thousands of endangered tortoises are rescued in Madagascar after their sanctuary is flooded

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — A community in southern Madagascar has pulled together to save thousands of critically endangered tortoises swept away from their sanctuary and left swimming for their lives in floods this month caused by a tropical cyclone.

https://apnews.com/article/tortoise-madagascar-endangered-flood-lavavolo-radiated-trafficking-e5551525889a1ed5ff44914cfa1a395b?

[phkrause]

Madagascar’s president says a coup is underway after soldiers joined anti-government demonstrations Madagascar’s president said Sunday that an attempted coup was underway in the Indian Ocean country, just a day after members of an elite army unit joined youth-led protests against the government and called for the president to step down. Read more.

What to know: Madagascar has been shaken by three weeks of the most significant unrest in years in the nation. The protests were led by a group calling itself “Gen Z Madagascar,” and the United Nations says the demonstrations have left at least 22 people dead and dozens injured. The government has disputed this number.   President Andry Rajoelina’s office offered no details on who was behind the attempt and no signs of violence were immediately visible on the streets on Sunday, although there was a large military presence.   A commander of the elite CAPSAT unit, Col. Michael Randrianirina, denied any coup had taken place, but the unit claimed to have taken control of all of Madagascar’s armed forces and said it had installed a new leader of the military, Gen. Demosthene Pikulas. CAPSAT is the same army unit that was pivotal in a 2009 military-backed coup that first brought Rajoelina to power as the head of a transitional government. Pikulas declined to say if they had asked Rajoelina to resign, but the CAPSAT army unit appeared to be in a position of authority.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ WATCH: Madagascan military cheered in streets as president says attempted coup underway

[phkrause]

Leader of Madagascar’s military coup tells AP he is ‘taking the position of president’

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar (AP) — The leader of Madagascar’s military coup told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he is “taking the position of president” and that the armed forces would be in charge of the African island nation for up to two years before any elections are held.

https://apnews.com/article/madagascar-protests-coup-leader-d589bfacc33bfd7e7e53bfadef7c6d8b?