Army Colonel Michael Randrianirina Sworn In As Madagascar President After Military Takeover
Army Colonel Michael Randrianirina was sworn in on Friday as Madagascar’s new president, days after a military power takeover that forced ex-President Andry Rajoelina to flee and sparked international concern over another coup in the island nation.
Randrianirina, who led the CAPSAT army unit that mutinied and joined anti-government protests, declared the military takeover after Rajoelina was impeached for desertion of duty on Tuesday.
“Today marks a historic turning point for our country,” he said after taking the oath of office. “We will work hand in hand with all the driving forces of the nation to draft a fine constitution and agree on new electoral laws for the organisation of elections and referendums.”
He thanked the youth for spearheading the protests that toppled Rajoelina and explained that the army acted on the request of the top court to “avoid anarchy and disorder.”
The swearing-in ceremony, held in the capital Antananarivo, was attended by senior military officers, politicians, members of the youth-led protest movement, and representatives from the United States, the European Union, Russia, and France.
Amid widespread criticism from the international community, including the United Nations, Randrianirina defended the move, saying it was not a coup since it had the backing of the constitutional court.
He promised to conduct elections within 18 to 24 months and assured citizens that “the government belongs to civilians,” despite his military background.
At the ceremony, the 51-year-old officer traded his uniform for a suit as he addressed foreign delegates in French, inviting them to “accompany Madagascar in the process of steering and implementing national renewal.”
“We are committed to breaking with the past,” he declared. “Our main mission is to thoroughly reform the country’s administrative, socio-economic and political systems of governance.”
Meanwhile, Rajoelina’s supporters have rejected the constitutional court’s endorsement of Randrianirina, describing it as illegal and destabilising. They insist Rajoelina remains the legitimate leader and is working to address the country’s persistent challenges, including widespread power outages that triggered the youth-led protests on September 25.
Security forces were accused of using excessive force against demonstrators, leaving many dead and injured, until CAPSAT announced on October 11 that it would no longer obey orders to shoot protesters. The decision marked a turning point in the uprising, earning CAPSAT praise from the protest movement, which now seeks participation in the transitional government.
Rajoelina’s office confirmed on Wednesday that he fled the country over the weekend, citing threats to his life. Media reports indicated that he was flown out on a French military aircraft to the island of Réunion before travelling to Dubai.
Madagascar joins a growing list of former French colonies that have experienced military takeovers since 2020, including Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Gabon, and Guinea.
This is the island’s third military transition since independence in 1960, following coups in 1972 and 2009. Despite its natural wealth and biodiversity, about 80 percent of Madagascar’s 32 million people live in poverty, according to World Bank data.
Rajoelina’s escape marks the third time a deposed Malagasy leader has gone into exile. Didier Ratsiraka fled to France in 2002 after post-election unrest, while Marc Ravalomanana took refuge in South Africa in 2009.
The African Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have both announced plans to send fact-finding missions to Madagascar and urged the restoration of constitutional order.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot also called for an inclusive transition. “The transition is now under way. We call for the full involvement of civilians in the ongoing process,” he said during a visit to Nigeria.
“The mobilisation of Madagascar’s youth must be fully heard to build a sustainable, peaceful and calm solution,” he added.
AFP
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
