Madagascar: A Chronology of the Failed Coup According to Tweets · Global Voices
Avylavitra

Twitter updates kept the internet abreast of the failed coup that started on the day of the referendum, November 17.  Back in 2009, twitter already played an important role as a medium for real-time updates from citizens about  the military takeover.  Here is a quick reminder of the events in 2009 as read on twitter:
31/01/2009 Rajoelina proclaimed himself President of Madagascar
17/03/2009 Ravalomanana fled the country. He is now exiled in South Africa
@tomavana starts the Twitter chronology:
[ça peut durer] 31.01.2009 Rajoelina s’autoproclame ‘en charge’ de la République #Madagascar ▸45j plus tard, 17.03.2009 Ravalomanana part [fr]
[it can last] 01.31.2009 Rajoelina proclaim himselfs ‘in charge’ of the Republic #Madagascar ▸45 days later, 17.03.2009 Ravalomanana leaves the country
Since then, many people lost their jobs. Foreign mediators have tried to point out the issue, trying to work out an agreement between them (Zafy Albert,Rajoelina, Ratsiraka, Ravalomanana). The mutual hatreds among Rajoelina and the three former presidents have prevented any real solution and plunged the nation into a deep crisis … deals have been announced, and agreements have been broken down.
@VOAAfrica Ex-Madagascar PM Calls for Dialogue to Resolve Crisis
Tired of this long crisis, last Wednesday, Novembre 17th 2010, was supposed to be a time for ushering in a new constitution.
@roulletteplayer: During an intervention on the #Madagascar national channels, Rajoelina urge the people to go vote tomorrow #Referendum
@dadamanga Ready for the vote? :) http://fb.me/uKlGhr0e
@akamasoa: #Madagascar will vote in a long-awaited referendum on a new #constitution on Wednesday@Tantely_Ramaka: #Madagascar répondre par OUI ou par NON. Mais c’est quoi déjà la question? [fr]
@akamasoa: #Madagascar will vote in a long-awaited referendum on a new #constitution on Wednesday@Tantely_Ramaka: #Madagascar answer by YES or NO. But what was the question again?
Tomavana asks:
@tomavana 1958 1972 1975 1992 1995 1998 2007 puis 2010, le #referendum du jour sera le 8e de #Madagascarhttp://bit.ly/amWDh7 re: http://ff.im/tS56G
@tomavana 1958 1972 1975 1992 1995 1998 2007 then 2010, the #referendum of the day will be the 8th of #Madagascarhttp://bit.ly/amWDh7 re: http://ff.im/tS56G
About 8 million Malagasy were asked to vote. The opposition had called for a boycott of the voting, telling it as a way for Rajoelina to retain power a little bit longer.
@AngloMalagasy: Coup attempt ‘unsurprising as referendum is last chance 2challenge Rajoelina’s right 2power’ http://da2.me/5N
Streets in Antananarivo remained calm into the evening, but at Ivato , Lt Col. Charles Andrianasoavina with a group of dissident Malagasy soldiers declared that a military comittee “Military Committee for the People's Salvation” had taken power of Madagascar, and that “From now on, all institutions are suspended and a military committee is going to run the country.”
As the coup attempt lasted 3 days, people living in the surroundings were scared, waiting for what will happen next. There was almost no source of information.
@saveoursmile images des mutins de coup d’état à #madagascar via tvplus sur http://bit.ly/bfRbhY
@saveoursmile pictures of the coup attempt mutinies in #madagascar via tvplus at http://bit.ly/bfRbhY
@chdsandeep Madagascar: Appeal to the mutiny on the constitutional referendum: A group of officers said… http://goo.gl/fb/AFIdv
@salivates#sp Coup Attempt by Military Is Reported in Madagascar: Military officers in Madagascar, including some who had…
@tomavana 2y of constant rumors of coups & even occasional attempt RT @malagasy RT @Twtimes Coup Attempt Reported in #Madagascarhttp://nyti.ms/chTs1m
@CHALCHIHUITES Rebel troops claim Madagascar government suspended (AFP)
The airport is near barracks (BANI – Base Aero-Navale d’Ivato) occupied by rebels. Riot police fired teargas to disperse anti-government protesters at a burning barricade near the military camp but they did not enter the camp. Photos taken by Jentilisa:
@jentilisa #madagascar sary hafa indray! http://jentilisa.blaogy.com/post/122/7556
Rajoelina said that “the government will assume its responsibilities and consequently take action”. Prime Minister Camille Vital called mutineers “to respect discipline, respect institutions and show professionalism… They have tried to stage a putch… until now everything is under control … everything is normal”
@VOAAfrica: Madagascar’s Rajoelina Vows Not to Resign http://bit.ly/bzFfNC
@nbiga MADAGASCAR : Le Premier ministre déclare la situation « sous contrôle » après la … http://goo.gl/fb/th35P
@nbiga MADAGASCAR : The Prime Minister claims everything is under control after the … http://goo.gl/fb/th35P
@tomavana l’avenir nous dira si c’était qu’un pseudo-coup …déjà un succès si un des buts était d’occulter referendum constitutionnel à #Madagascar [fr]
@tomavana time will tell if it was a pseudo-coup … a success if one of the goals was to conceal constitutional referendum in #Madagascar
Meanwhile tweeters reacted to the referendum
@malagasy: When was the last time a no vote won in #Madagascar ? …Oh yeah, NEVER
@Heryr: Indice du risque terroriste selon Maplecroft, #Madagascar est dans la zone de risque faible http://goo.gl/11fhq [fr]
@Heryr: Terrorism risk index by Maplecroft, #Madagascar is in the area of low risk http://goo.gl/11fhq
@tomavana [referendum #Madagascar ] Antananarivo semble être calme selon témoignage de @falyfamalagasy @news2dago et @jentilisahttp://bit.ly/96hVM9 [fr]
Others kept their sense of humor
@dadamanga: #photo « a voting day for adults but a beach day for kids! :D » http://fb.me/Oovazl8F
@Metisgasy: Un jour de repos, ca ne fait de mal à personne. Vive le referendum. #Madagascar
Others linked to their blog posts on the referendum by tweets :
@saveoursmile Témoignage d’un citoyen lambda sur le referendum de ce jour à #Madagascar http://bit.ly/bQlr79
Other tweets think tourism in Madagascar is safe, coup or not :
@lonelyplanet where to stay in Antananarivo? Any suggestion?
@Yektasays: flying to the capital of #Madagascar in an hour, got @lonelyplanet 2007, no clue where to stay yet re: http://ff.im/tkZuI
@Yektasays: … #Madagascar is fantastic, we think here is similar to Bolivia ,more fun.. re: http://ff.im/tkZuI
When the base where the mutineers were holed up was attacked, tweets said :
@streetrover In sum, the moramora #coup hasn’t failed yet. It’s well & alive. Rajoelina & Co are now desperate. Who will rescue them again?
@madatribune#Madagascar : le ministère des forces armées demande aux civils d’évacuer la base Bani d’Ivato et les alentours [fr]
@falyfamalagasy Le CEMGAM est entré dans la Base BANI il y a 15 minutes pour continuer les pourparlers, rien pour l’instant #Madagascar [fr]
@topmada#madagascar La HAT « putschistes en mars 2009″ embourbée et contrainte de négocier. Lire ici http://bit.ly/a0Ab8c [fr]
@topmada #madagascar The HAT « putschists in March 2009″ bogged down and forced to negotiate. Read here http://bit.ly/a0Ab8c
@topmada#madagascar Les #USA pour une transition neutre, condamnent toutes actions de forces que ce soit pour s’emparer ou se maintenir au pouvoir
The Times of Madagascar posted the Statement of the United States Regarding the Current Situation in Madagascar
@madatribune#madagascar Ambiance toujours tendue à Ivato (écoles et commerces fermés), mais l’heure reste à la négociation. [fr]
@falyfamalagasy RT @madatribune: #madagascar Le chef d’État-major a négocié pendant deux heures. Pas de déclaration à la sortie (vers 12h30).
@falyfamalagasy RT @madatribune: #madagascar The Chief of the Army has negotiated for two hours. No declaration when leaving (at about 12.30 pm).
@falyfamalagasy #Madagascar : if it’s a pseudo-coup to legitimize the HAT to the CI that could work, but don’t play with fire !
@tananews Le CEMGAM Ndrianarijaona André serait sur le point d’être remercié. Un mutin de plus en perspective qui va gonfler les rangs de la BANI ?
@jentilisa It’ll be over for the FAT if CEMGAM is dismissed. Fatal error if CEMGAM is dismissed. src #tananews#madagascar
@topmada#madagascar L’ordre d’assaut du CSMP (BANI) à Ivato par le FIS et le DSP a été donné par Andry Rajoelina
@news2dago Reading: « Un fort dispositif des forces de l’ordre vient d’arriver aux abords du BANI Ivato. « ( http://twitthis.com/no5yi8 )
@jentilisa Raikitra ny an-kitifitra. Echanges de tirs dans l’enceinte du camp BANI Ivato src #orangemadagascar#madagascar
@tomavana ‘accalmie après échanges de tirs au BANI Ivato’ Antananarivo #Madagascarhttp://bit.ly/c8oBFr à suivre sur orange.mg
@falyfamalagasy#Madagascar (sourge orange.mg) 16H50 : Accalmie au BANI Ivato, les tirs ont cessé. Les forces spéciales ont pénétré… http://ff.im/u53zz
@thierry_ratsiz RT @BreakingNews: Gunshots heard after security forces in #Madagascar enter rebel barracks – Reuters
@tomavana ‘Gunshots has ceased before the special forces anter rebel barrack’ then exchange of gunfire again http://bit.ly/buIf1H src orange.mg [fr]
@falyfamalagasy RT @tomavana: [assaut à la BANI Ivato #Madagascar ] ‘général Noel Rakotonandrasana et qq officiers se seraient rendus’ src orange.mg
@avylavitra#madagascar La destination inconnue pour ces officiers rebelles. Ils seront repartis dans différentes prisons.
@tomavana [opération de com rondement menée] #Madagascar ‘La vie reprend son cours normal aux abords du BANI’ conclut orange.mg
@news2dago#Madagascar Fin de l’épisode
@avylavitra#madagascar BANI Résumé: début des hostilités vers 15h 50 par FIS/Lylison, environ 30 rebl se sont rendu 17h30, aucune perte de vie humaine [fr]