Marrakech – After weeks of anti-government protests led by Gen Z youth, Madagascar’s military has seized power following the flight of President Andry Rajoelina. The political crisis reached its peak on Tuesday when the National Assembly voted to remove Rajoelina from office with 130 out of 163 deputies supporting his impeachment.
Colonel Michael Randrianirina announced the military takeover outside the presidential palace in Antananarivo on October 14. “We are taking power from today and dissolving the Senate and the High Constitutional Court. We will let the National Assembly continue working,” he declared, speaking on behalf of the CAPSAT military unit.
The military intervention came just hours after the Assembly’s impeachment vote, which exceeded the required two-thirds majority. Earlier the same day, Rajoelina had attempted to dissolve the Assembly through a decree published on his Facebook page, but the opposition deemed this action illegal as it was neither signed, sealed, nor published in the official journal.
Rajoelina, who first came to power in 2009 following a military-backed uprising, has reportedly fled Madagascar. According to Radio France Internationale (RFI) and the specialized site Madagascar Aviation, he was evacuated Sunday aboard a French military aircraft, though Paris has denied this claim.
In a pre-recorded 26-minute video message broadcast Monday evening at 10:30 p.m., Rajoelina claimed he left to protect himself from an alleged coup attempt and assassination plot. “I was forced to find a safe place to protect my life,” he said, without specifying his location. Several military sources indicate he is no longer in Madagascar and is currently in Dubai.
The president called for dialogue while insisting the constitution must be respected. He also mentioned that several heads of state had offered military reinforcements, which he declined.
Military leaders promise civilian government within days
Colonel Randrianirina detailed plans for the transition period. “We will establish a committee composed of officers from the army, gendarmerie, and national police. There may be civilian senior advisers as well. This committee will handle presidential duties. At the same time, after a few days, we will establish a civilian government,” he explained to AFPTV.
The CAPSAT military unit, which played a crucial role in the 2009 coup that brought Rajoelina to power, shifted the balance by joining the protests on Saturday. Its officers called on security forces to “refuse to shoot” at demonstrators before joining them in the capital’s center.
Though soldiers exchanged fire with security forces over the weekend, there have been no major clashes in the streets. Soldiers in armored vehicles carrying Malagasy flags have been cheered by residents in the capital, Antananarivo.
The unrest began on September 25 over chronic water and electricity shortages but evolved into broader discontent with Rajoelina’s government. According to the United Nations, at least 22 people have died and dozens have been injured during the protests.
The UN has criticized the “violent response” of Malagasy authorities to what were largely peaceful demonstrations in the early days of the movement. The government has disputed the death toll.
Madagascar’s political future remains uncertain
Madagascar is a former French colony, and Rajoelina was granted French citizenship by decree in 2014, which has been a source of discontent for some Malagasy people for years.
Thousands of protesters gathered again in Antananarivo on Tuesday. The movement includes young people mobilized by the Gen Z collective, now joined by civil servants responding to union strike calls and demonstrators of all generations.
The Gen Z protesters, who organized online, say they drew inspiration from movements that toppled governments in Nepal and Sri Lanka. Their demonstrations have attracted widespread support in a country where poverty is endemic.
The island nation has a long history of popular uprisings followed by military transitional governments. At least 80% of Madagascar’s 32 million inhabitants live on less than 15,000 ariary per day (€2.80), below the World Bank poverty threshold.
“I was completely disappointed. We waited for hours, he wasn’t even on time. I think everyone here wants his resignation. We want him to resign, but he continues to pretend there are still people who want him to stay,” Marie-Joëlle Ravelonandrasana, a student, told Africanews.
Another student, Santatriniaina Ramarojaona, echoed this sentiment: “All the population wants is his resignation, but he refuses and wants to continue working. Nothing he said matters. He keeps talking about solving Malagasy problems and all that.”
The president’s former prime minister and one of his closest advisers have also fled the country, arriving on the neighboring island of Mauritius early Sunday, according to the Mauritian government. Mauritius has stated it was “not satisfied” that the private plane had landed on its territory.
Rajoelina’s speech was supposed to be broadcast on Malagasy television but was delayed for several hours after soldiers allegedly attempted to take control of the public broadcaster’s buildings, according to the president’s office.
In his message, Rajoelina also said he would continue his mission to resolve water and electricity problems in Madagascar, a statement that naturally provoked strong reactions in Antananarivo.
