An army colonel orchestrated a swift military coup in Madagascar, assuming the role of the country’s new leader in a rapid power shift that forced the president to flee into hiding. Col. Michael Randrianirina, commanding an elite army unit, officially became the new president after taking the oath of office at a ceremony held in front of the nation’s High Constitutional Court and its nine red-robed judges.
Randrianirina’s rise to power followed his announcement just three days prior that the armed forces were seizing control of the island nation, home to approximately 30 million people in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa. Despite the United Nations’ condemnation of the military takeover as unconstitutional, there has been limited international response, including from France, Madagascar’s former colonial ruler.
The coup, triggered by three weeks of youth-led protests against the government, resulted in Madagascar’s suspension from the African Union. President Andry Rajoelina fled the country amid safety concerns following a rebellion by soldiers loyal to Randrianirina, allegedly escaping on a French military aircraft. In his absence, Rajoelina was impeached by parliament just before the colonel’s assumption of power.
Randrianirina, aged around 50 or 51, transitioned from military attire to a formal suit and tie for his swearing-in ceremony, attended by military personnel, civilian officials, and foreign diplomats. The colonel, previously detained for a failed mutiny, emerged as the rebellion leader within a week, pledging to govern Madagascar under a military council for up to two years before new elections, delaying the aspirations of the protesting youth for a new leader.
Madagascar, plagued by high poverty rates affecting 75% of the population, has a history of political instability since independence in 1960, marked by coups and corruption. The country’s GDP per capita has nearly halved over the years, with Transparency International’s corruption index ranking dropping significantly. Rajoelina himself rose to power through a military-backed coup in 2009.
Despite the upheaval, the military’s control has seen minimal violence in the streets, with the population supporting the takeover. Randrianirina emphasized the military’s responsibility to restore the country’s glory, combat insecurity, and address social challenges. While the UN and African Union denounced the unconstitutional change of government, Madagascar’s future remains uncertain under the new leadership.
