Antananarivo: Malagasy President Andry Rajoelina's anticipated live national address was postponed on Monday after a group of soldiers threatened to take control of the state broadcaster's headquarters. The presidency announced that this prompted immediate intervention from the army chief to restore order at the site. According to Anadolu Agency, Gen. Demosthene Pikulas, the chief of staff, was dispatched to the broadcaster's headquarters to mediate and take charge of the situation. Initially, the presidential office had scheduled the president's address to occur at 7 pm local time (1600GMT). However, the speech was delayed first to 8.30 pm (1730GMT) and then to 9.30 pm (1830GMT) as negotiations were ongoing. The delay in the president's address coincides with ongoing youth-led protests that started on September 25. These protests are fueled by grievances over severe shortages of water and electricity, persistent poverty, allegations of corruption, and demands for President Rajoelina's resignation. In a re lated development earlier in the day, French radio station RFI reported that a French military helicopter evacuated Rajoelina to France. This move reportedly followed an agreement between the Malagasy president and French President Emmanuel Macron. The escalating unrest has led to significant government changes, including the dissolution of Rajoelina's Cabinet and the appointment of a new prime minister. In a show of support for the protests, allies of Rajoelina, such as his former Prime Minister Christian Ntsay and businessman Maminiaina Ravatomanga, flew to Mauritius on Saturday. On the same day, troops from the Army Personnel Administration Center (CAPSAT), a crucial military unit in Rajoelina's 2009 coup rise to power, announced their backing of the protests. CAPSAT took further action on Sunday by installing a new military chief, shortly after Rajoelina condemned their support for the protests as an unlawful power grab attempt.