ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — An attempted coup is underway in Madagascar, President Andry Rajoelina said Sunday, after members of an elite army unit joined youth-led protests demanding his resignation.

The announcement came amid three weeks of unrest — the most serious in the island nation in years — led by a movement calling itself “Gen Z Madagascar.”

The United Nations says at least 22 people have been killed and dozens injured in the protests, though the government disputes those figures.

In a statement, Rajoelina’s office said it “wishes to inform the nation and the international community that an attempt to seize power illegally and by force has been initiated.”

“In view of the extreme gravity of this situation, the President of the Republic strongly condemns this attempt at destabilization and calls upon all forces of the nation to unite in defense of constitutional order and national sovereignty,” the statement said.

While the statement did not name those behind the attempted takeover, members of the elite CAPSAT military unit joined demonstrations in the capital Antananarivo on Saturday, calling for Rajoelina and other government officials to step down.

Addressing protesters from an armored vehicle, Col. Michael Randrianirina of the CAPSAT unit said, “Do we call this a coup? I don’t know yet.”

Saturday’s protests were among the largest since unrest began on Sept. 25, initially sparked by water and electricity shortages before expanding into broader grievances about poverty, corruption, and the cost of living.

Madagascar, an island of about 31 million people off Africa’s east coast, has a history of coups since gaining independence from France in 1960.

Rajoelina himself first rose to power in 2009 after a military-backed coup led by elements of the same CAPSAT unit.

He was elected president in 2018 and reelected in 2023 in a vote boycotted by opposition parties.

Rajoelina attempted to quell the demonstrations by dismissing his entire government, including the prime minister, on Sept. 29.

However, his appointment of a military general as the new prime minister failed to calm tensions.

The “Gen Z Madagascar” movement, which has mobilized protesters through social media and fundraising platforms, says it was inspired by youth-led uprisings in Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Civic groups and trade unions have since joined the protests, which have prompted nightly curfews in Antananarivo and other major cities. — Agencies