Who is Andry Rajoelina - Madagascar's baby-faced president?

Andry Rajoelina is an entrepreneur and former DJ who has been in and out of office in Madagascar since 2009.

He gained power that year by ousting then-President Marc Ravalomanana in a coup backed by the army. At the age of 34, Rajoelina earned the title of Africa's youngest leader, going on to govern for four years, then returning to power again after the 2018 election.

As well as being a former DJ, Rajoelina also ran a number of businesses before he entered politics.

In 2007, he was elected mayor of Antananarivo, Madagascar's capital.

The baby-faced leader had gained popularity swiftly, thanks in part to his energy and slick campaigning style.

Rajoelina was voted back into office in 2018 and re-elected in 2023 in contested polls boycotted by the opposition.

But his sharp-suited, baby-faced appeal soon waned, as allegations of cronyism and entrenched corruption became unshakeable.

Rajoelina appears to be in a defiant mood, refusing to go without a fight.

This is despite the fact that power appears to have shifted away from him, with an elite military unit throwing its weight behind the youth-led protest movement, Gen Z Mada, demanding his resignation.

The unit known as CAPSAT announced on Sunday that it had taken control off all armed forces, and a new military head had been appointed.

The opposition has also thrown its weight behind the protest movement, saying it will institute impeachment proceedings against Rajoelina in parliament.

Rajoelina has now hit back, issuing a decree to dissolve parliament, but the opposition says it is invalid.

So, it is unclear how the stand-off will be resolved.

Rajoelina said he has dissolved the national assembly - the lower house of parliament - with immediate effect.

This came after the opposition said it would start impeachment proceedings against him in parliament for "abandonment of post".

Rajoelina had earlier said in a live broadcast to the nation on Facebook that he was forced to shelter in a "safe place" after an attempt on his life, following weeks of protests calling for him to quit.

He did not confirm reports that he had fled Madagascar on a French military aircraft.

A powerful military unit has thrown its weight behind protesters demanding his resignation.

On Sunday, Rajoelina said there was an attempt to seize power illegally.

The leader of the opposition in parliament has said President Andry Rajoelina's decree to dissolve the national assembly - the lower house of parliament - is "not legally valid", Reuters news agency is reporting.

"This decree is not legally valid... the president of the national assembly says he was not consulted," Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko is quoted as saying.

The African Union says soldiers must "refrain from meddling" in Madagascar's political affairs and warns that it "totally rejects any attempt at unconstitutional changes of government".

Watching events unfolding in Madagascar with "deep concern", the pan-African body's Peace and Security Council said it held an emergency meeting on Monday.

Madasgacar's embattled president says he is in hiding in a "safe place", and has issued a decree to dissolve the national assembly to block attempts to impeach him.