A faction of the Madagascan army has declared support for protesters, who have been protesting against power and water shortages for three weeks, calling for the resignation of President Andry Rajoelina.

Members of the Army Personnel Administration Center, known as CAPSAT, which played a key role in the nation’s 2009 coup, on Saturday circulated a video on social media, warning pro-government forces against a crackdown on protesters.

With some of its soldiers joining protesters in the capital, Antananarivo, CAPSAT said, “The country is facing a collapse of basic services and livelihoods.”

CAPSAT warned that security forces “must not blindly follow unlawful orders” and reminded them that they are “from the people and must serve the people.”

Footage of protesters cheering soldiers supporting struggles was circulated on social media Saturday.

This comes as another episode of the protests that broke out on September 25, which turned into a demand for Mr Rajoelina to resign from office.

Amid sustained protests, Mr Rajoelina begged for one year to fix power and water shortages, promising to resign should the problems persist.

“I swear that if power cuts persist in the capital within a year, I will resign,” Mr Rajoelina said during a town hall meeting with various groups on Wednesday.

Mr Rajoelina, who had sacked his cabinet members last Monday to appease the protesters, blamed sycophants who told him everything was alright in the country.

But protesters have remained on the streets of Madagascar despite his plea, disrupting commercial and other activities as police clamp down on them.

Over 20 people have been killed since the protests.

In a statement last Monday, Volker Türk, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, lamented the death of at least 22 people and a hundred injured during the protests.

Mr Türk expressed “shock at the violent response by security forces to the ongoing protests. The authorities must ensure respect for freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.”