An army commander who led a mutiny in Madagascar announced on Tuesday that the military had seized power after President Andry Rajoelina was impeached by lawmakers and forced to flee the country, following weeks of youth-led protests.

Rajoelina had defied mounting pressure to resign despite escalating demonstrations led by Gen Z activists and growing defections within the armed forces.

“We have taken power,” Colonel Michael Randrianirina declared on national radio, adding that the military had dissolved all institutions except the National Assembly. He said a military-led committee would govern the country for up to two years alongside a transitional government before organizing new elections.

According to a statement by military leaders, the Senate, the High Constitutional Court, the Independent National Electoral Commission, the High Court of Justice, the High Council for the Defence of Human Rights and the Rule of Law have all been suspended.

Earlier in the day, Rajoelina, 51, attempted to dissolve the lower house by decree. Still, lawmakers proceeded with an impeachment vote, creating a constitutional deadlock that the military exploited to take control.

Rajoelina—who himself came to power through a coup in 2009—denounced the military takeover in a statement. He said he had moved to a safe location due to threats to his life. Multiple sources, including opposition officials and diplomats, told Reuters he fled the country on Sunday aboard a French military plane.

Colonel Randrianirina, a commander in the elite CAPSAT unit, had defected from Rajoelina’s ranks last week. His defection was a critical blow to the president, who was ultimately impeached even by members of his own ruling coalition.

Rajoelina had warned in recent days that an attempted coup was underway in the Indian Ocean nation.