ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar, 17 October (H.S.): Colonel Michael Randrianirina was sworn in as the new leader of Madagascar on Friday, insisting the military’s seizure of power was not a coup but a necessary step to stabilize the nation. The takeover follows weeks of widespread, youth-led protests that resulted in the impeachment and flight of former President Andry Rajoelina.
The political crisis escalated after Randrianirina’s elite CAPSAT military unit joined anti-government demonstrations that began on September 25. These protests, largely organized by Gen Z activists, were initially fueled by public anger over water and power shortages. President Rajoelina fled the island nation between October 11 and 12, citing explicit and extremely serious threats against his life.
In his absence, parliament voted to impeach him, a move he attempted to block by dissolving the lower house of parliament.On Tuesday, Colonel Randrianirina declared that the military had taken control, a move later validated by the country’s High Constitutional Court.
A coup is when soldiers enter the presidential palace with weapons… There is bloodshed… This is not a coup, Randrianirina stated, framing the action as assuming responsibility to prevent the country’s collapse. He has pledged to hold elections within 18 to 24 months and is in consultations to appoint a prime minister for a transitional government.
The international community has responded with alarm. The African Union has suspended Madagascar, and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the unconstitutional change of government.This marks another chapter in Madagascar’s history of political instability. Rajoelina himself first took power in a military-backed coup in 2009 before being elected in 2018 and 2023.
Randrianirina, a known opponent of Rajoelina, was previously arrested in November 2023 on accusations of plotting a coup . While the capital, Antananarivo, has seen celebrations following the takeover, the island nation remains one of the poorest countries in the world.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
