Madagascar’s new military ruler, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, will take the oath of office as the country’s president, the military announced on Wednesday.
The declaration followed the African Union’s decision to suspend Madagascar after soldiers ousted President Andry Rajoelina in a swift coup that plunged the island into its worst political crisis in years.
The Capsat elite army unit seized control of the government on Tuesday, only moments after parliament impeached Rajoelina amid escalating street protests. Witnesses reported that Rajoelina fled the country as thousands of demonstrators poured into the streets of Antananarivo, demanding his resignation.
The coup marked yet another military takeover in Francophone Africa, joining the ranks of Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Gabon, and Guinea, all of which have fallen under army control since 2020.
Randrianirina, commander of the Capsat army unit, appeared on national television after the takeover and announced his confirmation by the High Constitutional Court. He vowed to lead a “refoundation of the Republic of Madagascar” and promised to hand power back to civilians within 18 to 24 months.
“This is not a coup,” Randrianirina told local reporters. “It is an act of responsibility. The country was collapsing. We had to save it.”
He revealed that consultations were already underway to appoint a prime minister and form a transitional government, which will operate under a committee of officers drawn from the army, gendarmerie, and police.
The military announced that Randrianirina’s swearing-in ceremony would take place on October 17, during a formal session of the constitutional court. State television published the announcement on social media, as riot police and protesters filled the streets of Antananarivo, where the air hung thick with tear gas.
The African Union condemned the military takeover and announced Madagascar’s suspension with immediate effect, calling for a swift return to constitutional order. The United Nations also expressed deep concern over what it termed an “unconstitutional change of power.”
France urged Madagascar’s new rulers to uphold democracy, fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law, while Germany advised “caution in this confusing situation.” Russia, on its part, called for “restraint and avoidance of bloodshed.”
The Southern African Development Community, SADC, whose rotating presidency Rajoelina previously held, issued a statement expressing serious concern and urging regional stability.
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Despite global condemnation, the mood in Madagascar’s capital remained mixed. The Gen Z youth movement, which began demonstrations on September 25 over water and energy shortages, celebrated the military intervention.
“We’re the last hope,” the group declared on Facebook. “Colonel Randrianirina listened to us, and we’ll keep pushing for systemic change.”
Thousands of young people gathered at Place du 13 Mai, a symbolic protest ground where previous clashes between demonstrators and security forces had turned deadly. A concert in the square on Wednesday night turned into an emotional celebration of what many saw as a people-driven victory.
A local rugby captain, 26-year-old Fenitra Razafindramanga, described the mood as a mixture of relief and uncertainty.
“We’re worried about what comes next,” she told AFP. “But we’re savouring this first victory that gave us hope.”
In the northern city of Antsiranana, a businesswoman named Muriella voiced cautious optimism.
“It feels like we’ve just been released from prison,” she said. “But this should remind our leaders to learn from their mistakes.”
Colonel Randrianirina has long criticized Rajoelina’s leadership and spent several months in detention in 2023 after authorities accused him of plotting a coup. His emergence as head of state marks a dramatic reversal of fortune.
He pledged to restructure major state institutions during the transition period, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and national unity.
“We are ready to work with the youth and rebuild the nation,” Randrianirina declared. “This transition is for all Malagasy people.
