The Fort Duchesne battle: a presidential guard killed, the FIGN besieged

In this kind of case, it was Lt colonel Lylson’s squad supported by Emmo Reg troops. The special Intervention Force is in first lines again. It consequently suffered one casualty, one of the presidential guard’s trooper. His engagement on the battlefield is meaning his unit’s support to the HAT FIS. The casualty report is not yet announced. Since several hundreds of gunshots have been spotted, the relatively low number of victims is either a miracle, or a proof that soldiers cannot shoot well. Three wounded men have subsequently been driven to the military hospital.  

Colonel Richard Ravalomanana still animated the show despite being involved in the action. According to the Emmo-reg’s commander, the FIGN rather aggressively shoot first. After the first warning shots, and a short lull, the holders of Fort Duchesne resumed the shoot out. The confrontation lasted a good couple of hours, although the shoot out significantly lost intensity during the second hour.  

It was, this time around, a true confrontation and not a movie. At least, everyone is rejoicing from the fact that neither the state policemen nor the militaries are gifted snipers! The FIGN troops pulled back soon later behind their base camp’s battlements. Colonel Raymond Andrianjafy called upon negotiations. Colonel Ravalomanana didn’t dare the assault and restricted to a siege. The Lt Colonel Lylson had a clear idea of the position to attack for having been in command of Fort Duchesne before joining the mutiny against the Marc Ravalomanana regime.  

According to colonel Ravalomanana, had Emmo Reg launched a assault in the rule of the art, the FIGN forces would have been quickly neutralized. It wouldn’t have been the objective. He underlined that there’s been neither winner nor loser on that day, and that the settlement of issues was the priority. Tensions effectively went down, until Lt Collar Lylson’s casualty revived it.   

Everyone having entrenched in the surrounded camp, civilian or military would be prosecuted, according to colonel Ravalomanana, including the clerical leaders who found a secure area within Fort Duchesne. The movement close to the former president  Ravalomanana actually responded to colonel Andrianjafy’s call and supported the FIGN. A pacific demonstration was previously meant to take place near the Mausoleum of Ambohitsaina but the Emmo Reg came in and thwarted everything. A pastor has been arrested. According to the authorities, he would have surrendered.   

One government’s member intervened on the HAT radio waves in order to label the FIGN led mutiny attempt as a military Coup. One year ago, the CAPSAT unit exactly did the same but legalistic army refrained from replying in order avoid bloody street battles. Today, the Lt colonel Lylson and colonel Richard Ravalomanana successfully hindered a remake, and save the Rajoelina regime by the use of force, but for how long?