Madagascar’s Military Leader Sworn In As President Amid Political Upheaval

Madagascar’s governmental scenery shifted dramatically this week arsenic Colonel Michael Randrianirina, the 51-year-old commandant of the elite CAPSAT unit, was sworn successful arsenic president, pursuing a subject involution that forced President Andry Rajoelina to fly the country.

The ceremonial astatine the High Constitutional Court successful Antananarivo connected Friday, October 17, 2025, formalised his appointment, drafting crisp planetary attraction and raising concerns astir the land nation’s antiauthoritarian future.

The situation erupted amid wide youth-led protests that began connected September 25, driven by frustrations implicit chronic powerfulness and h2o shortages. The demonstrations turned deadly, with the United Nations reporting astatine slightest 22 deaths and much than 100 injuries. Security forces initially cracked down harshly connected the protesters, but CAPSAT refused orders to fire, siding with demonstrators, a determination that marked a turning constituent successful the unrest and elevated the portion to a cardinal relation successful the caller governmental arrangement.

President Rajoelina fled Madagascar connected October 13, citing threats to his life. The National Assembly subsequently impeached him for “desertion of duty,” portion the subject assumed power of the government, dissolving cardinal institutions but for the Assembly.

Rajoelina’s departure echoes past exiles successful Madagascar, including erstwhile leaders Didier Ratsiraka successful 2002 and Marc Ravalomanana successful 2009.

Speaking to section media earlier his swearing-in, Randrianirina emphasized that the caller authorities would see some subject and civilian representatives. He pledged elections wrong 18 to 24 months and consultations to name a statement premier minister.

“Madagascar has not chosen a subject regime. The authorities belongs to civilians, and the statesmanlike assembly includes some subject and civilian members,” helium said.

Critics, including allies of Rajoelina, however, condemned the law court’s endorsement of Randrianirina, citing procedural flaws and informing that the determination could destabilise the federation further.

Madagascar is nary alien to subject transitions. Since independency from France successful 1960, it has experienced 3 subject takeovers, with the astir caller anterior to this twelvemonth occurring successful 2009. The land besides joins a increasing database of erstwhile French colonies to autumn nether subject power since 2020, including Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Gabon, and Guinea.

Despite its abundant earthy resources and unsocial biodiversity, Madagascar remains 1 of the world’s poorest countries, with astir 80 per cent of its astir 32 cardinal radical surviving beneath the poorness line, according to World Bank benchmarks.

The planetary assemblage has voiced interest implicit the coup. The African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) announced fact-finding missions and stressed the value of preserving law democracy.

French Foreign Minister Jean Noel Barrot, during a sojourn to Nigeria, told reporters that afloat civilian engagement successful the modulation was indispensable and that the voices of Madagascar’s younker indispensable beryllium heard to guarantee a sustainable and peaceful solution.

As Madagascar navigates this uncertain period, the eyes of the satellite stay connected the island, watching however its caller enactment volition code deep-rooted challenges and whether the federation tin illustration a way toward lasting stableness and democratic governance.