Madagascar’s new army ruler to be sworn in as Rajoelina confirms departure
Key Takeaways
- Madagascar's new military leader, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, will be sworn in as president on Friday.
- The inauguration defies the African Union (AU), which suspended Madagascar's membership and demanded the return of civilian rule.
- The military seized power after forcing President Andry Rajoelina to flee the country amid serious threats.
- The situation deepens a constitutional crisis as Rajoelina refuses to renounce his presidency.
- The military takeover followed weeks of deadly protests over power and water shortages.
Madagascar’s new military leader, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, announced he will be sworn in as president on Friday, a move that directly defies the African Union's decision to suspend the island nation's membership and demand the restoration of civilian rule. Randrianirina took power after a popular rebellion forced President Andry Rajoelina to flee the country last week amid serious threats to his life. The announcement exacerbates a constitutional crisis, as Rajoelina refuses to step down and previously dissolved the National Assembly, accusing it of colluding with the military. The military takeover succeeded weeks of deadly 'Gen-Z' protests initially sparked by power and water shortages. Randrianirina, a commander in the elite unit that helped Rajoelina gain power in 2009, broke ranks last week to urge soldiers not to fire on demonstrators. Madagascar now joins a growing list of former French colonies that have experienced military takeovers since 2020.
