MADAGASCAN President Andry Rajoelina was evacuated from the country by a French military plane late on Sunday.

This comes as protesters joined forces with the military over the weekend to topple Mr Rajoelina’s government.

The evacuation reportedly followed an agreement with French President Emmanuel Macron and assurances that France was not intervening in Madagascar’s internal crisis, which has rocked the country since September 25.

The unrest began over widespread water and electricity cuts but has grown into a nationwide movement demanding Mr Rajoelina’s resignation.

Security forces that once used force to disperse demonstrations turned on Saturday to give their backing to the protests.

The troops went on to take control of the paramilitary gendarmerie.

The official Facebook page of the president announced early today that the “president will address the Malagasy people,” but his location was unclear.

President Rajoelina has not spoken publicly since the officers supporting the protests said they had taken control of the gendarmerie.

On Sunday the presidency warned of an attempted coup by members of Capsat, an elite unit that helped Mr Rajoelina seize power during a 2009 coup.

Former prime minister Christian Ntsay and businessman Mamy Ravatomanga, a close ally of the president, reportedly flew to Mauritius on a private jet on Saturday night.

President Rajoelina was also absent from a ceremony to install General Nonos Mbina Mamelison as head of the gendarmerie.

The event was attended by Armed Forces Minister General Deramasinjaka Rakotoarivelo and General Demosthene Pikulas, who Capsat has named as chief of the army.

There has been no immediate official statement by the military on the ousting of the president. 

About 1,000 people gathered on Sunday in front of city hall in Antananarivo to celebrate with the Capsat troops.

By midday, three armoured vehicles drove through the cheering crowd, carrying soldiers who joined the celebrations as demonstrators waved Malagasy flags.