Madagascar Coup: Military Takes Control as Youth Protests Force Presidential Exodus

NewsFinale Journal

3 weeks ago

Share and Follow

An army commander who led a mutiny in Madagascar says the military has taken power after President Andry Rajoelina was impeached by MPs and forced to flee the country following weeks of youth-led protests.

Rajoelina had refused to step down despite escalating gen Z demonstrations demanding his resignation and widespread defections in the army.

“We have taken the power,” Colonel Michael Randrianirina declared on state radio, stating the military was dissolving all institutions except the lower house of parliament, or the national assembly.

Randrianirina later told reporters a committee led by the military would rule the country for a period of up to two years alongside a transitional government before organising new elections.

The military leadership has declared the suspension of several key institutions, including the Senate, the High Constitutional Court, the Independent National Electoral Commission, the High Court of Justice, and the High Council for the Defence of Human Rights and the Rule of Law, according to their official statement.

In a significant development, military chief Michael Randrianirina joined demonstrators in the capital city, Antananarivo, to announce that the armed forces were seizing control of Madagascar. Source: AP / Brian Inganga

The island nation, located off the southern coast of Africa, faced a day filled with upheaval. Its 51-year-old leader, whose current location remains undisclosed, had earlier attempted to disband the lower house through a decree.

Randrianirina, who commands the elite CAPSAT military unit that was instrumental in the 2009 coup led by Rajoelina, recently distanced himself from the leader.

Amidst the chaos, Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina, now in hiding, addressed the nation through a video message from an undisclosed location. Source: AP / Presidency Of The Republic Of Madagascar

The anger mirrored recent protests against ruling elites elsewhere, including Nepal and Morocco.

Protesters celebrate in the streets

Earlier on Tuesday, at Antananarivo’s May 13 Square, along the main drag lined with palm trees and French colonial buildings, thousands of protesters danced, marched, sang and waved banners denouncing Rajoelina as a French stooge because of his dual citizenship and support from Madagascar’s former coloniser.

Protesters took to the streets of Madagascar’s capital, Antananarivo, to celebrate. Source: AP / Brian Inganga

Many were waving Malagasy flags and the signature gen Z protest banner of a skull and crossbones from the Japanese One Piece anime series.

At one point, Randrianirina took the stage and asked: “Are you ready to accept a military takeover?”

Later, as news of the military takeover filtered through to protesters, many were jubilant.

“We’re so happy Andry Rajoelina is finally gone … we will start again,” high school student Fih Nomensanahary said, with four of her friends cheering alongside her.

Others were more cautious.

“They need to hand over to a civilian administration quickly and have an election,” said Rezafy Lova, a 68-year-old IT consultant.

CAPSAT had joined the protesters over the weekend, saying it would refuse to fire on them.

It went on to take charge of the military and appointed a new army chief, prompting Rajoelina to warn of an illegal attempt to seize power.

Since then, the paramilitary gendarmerie and the police have also broken ranks with Rajoelina.

Madagascar, where the average age is under 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.

Share and Follow

Exit mobile version