Colonel Michael Randrianirina, who led a coup to depose President Andry Rajoelina, has declared that Madagascar’s military has assumed control of the government, dissolving all state institutions except the National Assembly. The colonel, who heads the elite CAPSAT unit, announced that a military-led committee and a transitional government would govern the country for up to two years before holding new elections.
According to two sources familiar with the matter, Randrianirina is expected to be sworn in as Madagascar’s new president within the next two days, in the presence of High Constitutional Court officials who have formally invited him to take office. His installation marks the latest development in the rapidly evolving political crisis on the Indian Ocean island nation.
The coup followed weeks of unrest and mounting pressure on President Rajoelina, who was impeached by lawmakers just two days after fleeing the country amid growing protests led primarily by Gen Z demonstrators. Security forces began defecting in large numbers, weakening Rajoelina’s hold on power. Despite the impeachment, Rajoelina has refused to formally resign, denouncing the takeover as unconstitutional and illegitimate.
In a televised statement after seizing power, Randrianirina declared that “the army has taken responsibility for the nation” and justified the intervention as necessary to restore order and stability. He announced that all state institutions except the lower house of parliament were dissolved to prevent further political chaos and to ensure continuity of governance through the National Assembly.
Colonel Randrianirina’s role in Madagascar’s turbulent politics is not new. He was a key player in the 2009 military-backed coup that first brought Rajoelina to power, highlighting the cyclical nature of political upheavals in the country. His recent defection from Rajoelina’s administration signaled a major shift in the military’s loyalties and set the stage for the latest takeover.
President Rajoelina, in a defiant address broadcast on Monday, said he had been forced into hiding due to threats to his life. Multiple sources — including an opposition leader, a military insider, and a foreign diplomat — told Reuters that he fled Madagascar on Sunday aboard a French military aircraft.
The coup has drawn international concern, as Madagascar faces renewed political instability at a time when it is already struggling with poverty, food insecurity, and the effects of climate change. The African Union and the United Nations have yet to issue formal statements, but regional observers expect calls for restraint and a swift return to civilian rule.
As Colonel Randrianirina prepares to take the oath of office, uncertainty looms over Madagascar’s political future. While the military has promised eventual elections, past transitions in the country have often been prolonged, leaving questions about how long this latest “transitional” rule will truly last.
