Madagascar Anticipates Shift as Coup Leader Set for Inauguration

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Key Points

Colonel Michael Randrianirina says he will be sworn in “soon” after taking control in a coup.
The African Union suspends Madagascar, calls on “rule of law” to prevail over force.
Andry Rajoelina, who fled abroad, denounces the takeover as security forces abandon him.

Madagascar’s new military ruler, Michael Randrianirina, said on Wednesday he would soon be sworn in as the country’s president as the African Union suspended the island nation after a coup to oust President Andry Rajoelina.

Rajoelina, who was impeached after fleeing abroad during the weekend, has condemned the takeover and refused to step down despite gen Z demonstrations demanding his resignation and widespread defections in the security forces.

In a surprising turn of events, Randrianirina announced that the military had seized control, dismantling all governmental bodies with the exception of the National Assembly, the lower chamber of parliament. This significant political shift was confirmed by two sources who revealed to Reuters that Randrianirina is set to be inaugurated as president within the coming days.

“We will be sworn in soon,” the army colonel told a press briefing on Wednesday, a day after the High Constitutional Court invited him to serve as president of the former French colony.

“We took responsibility yesterday.”

During a meeting of the African Union bloc earlier on Wednesday, Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf emphasized the importance of upholding legal frameworks over the use of force. He stated, “The rule of law must prevail over the rule of force. Our approach is grounded in law and dialogue.”

Randrianirina, who was once a commander in the CAPSAT, an elite army unit, notably influenced the 2009 coup that propelled Rajoelina to power. However, he recently parted ways with Rajoelina, advocating for military restraint and cautioning soldiers against using force on demonstrators.

A spokesperson for the African Union told Reuters on Wednesday that the bloc had suspended Madagascar with immediate effect following the coup, without sharing further details. Suspension by the 55-member bloc carries political weight and could isolate the country’s new leadership.

Rajoelina, now 51, first ascended to power as the world’s youngest head of state at the age of 34, following a coup supported by youth-led protests. Despite his initial promises to enhance living standards and tackle corruption, many of these pledges remain unfulfilled. This backdrop sets the stage for Randrianirina’s imminent leadership and the challenges that lie ahead.

Randrianirina said on Tuesday that a committee led by the military would rule for up to two years alongside a transitional government before organising new elections.

Randrianirina was a commander in the elite CAPSAT army unit that played a key role in the 2009 coup that brought Rajoelina to power but broke ranks with him last week, urging soldiers not to fire on protesters.

Failed promises

Rajoelina fled Madagascar on Sunday aboard a French military plane, security sources told Reuters. He has said his life was at risk and is now believed to be in Dubai, according to three diplomatic and opposition sources.

The 51-year-old former DJ rose to power in a coup in 2009 on the back of youth protests, becoming the world’s youngest head of state at 34. But promises to improve living standards and eradicate corruption were never fulfilled.

Madagascar, where the average age is less than 20, has a population of about 30 million, three-quarters of whom live in poverty. Between its independence in 1960 and 2020, GDP per capita plunged 45 per cent, according to the World Bank.

As well as the CAPSAT unit, the paramilitary gendarmerie and the police have also broken ranks with Rajoelina.