Russia says it hopes bloodshed will be avoided in Madagascar

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia said on Wednesday that it was closely watching events in Madagascar and hoped that bloodshed would be avoided after the military took power following weeks of youth-led protests.

Demonstrations first erupted in Madagascar on September 25 over water and power shortages and quickly escalated into an uprising over broader grievances, including corruption, bad governance and a lack of basic services.

Colonel Michael Randrianirina declared on Tuesday that he had taken power and that a military committee would rule the country for a period of up to two years alongside a transitional government before organising new elections.

"We are following the development of the situation in Madagascar with anxiety," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters in Moscow. "We believe that what is happening is an internal matter of this country."

"We call for restraint and for the prevention of bloodshed," Zakharova said, adding that Moscow hoped the Madagascar's "return to the path of democratic development" will happen as soon as possible.

Russia in recent years has been increasing its influence in Africa, partly through the Wagner mercenary group which has operated in Central African Republic, Madagascar, Libya, Mozambique and Mali.

According to the New York Times and the BBC, the Wagner group was active in Madagascar during the 2018 presidential election.

(Reporting by Reuters; Writing Guy Faulconbridge/Lucy Papachristou; editing by Andrew Osborn)

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