A French citizen was arrested for being involved in the assassination attempt of Madagascar’s president Andry Nirina Rajoelina.
Five other persons were also detained on suspicion of involvement in the plan, Madagascar’s public security minister revealed.
“One of the arrested people is French, two of them are bi-national – Malagasy and French. The three others are Malagasy,” Rodellys Fanomezantsoa Randrianarison said in a news conference.
Madagascar’s attorney general said on Thursday police had arrested the six following what officials said was a months-long investigation.
“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 Attorney General said in a statement.
Patrick Rajoelina, an adviser to President Andry Rajoelina, pointed out that two of those arrested had previously worked in the French military.
“The evidence is tangible and we certainly do not take this lightly,” he said.
He added that investigations were still ongoing and vowed to tighten protection of the president.
Earlier yesterday, Madagascaran authorities declared that security forces had succeeded in foiling a plot to kill President Andry Rajoelina.
The authorities indicated that the suspects include both foreign nationals and Madagascar-born citizens.
No further information was released on that date.
The former French colony has had a long history of coups and unrest since gaining independence from France in 1960.
