Madagascar has entered military rule after an army unit seized power following the impeachment of President Andry Rajoelina.
The takeover was led by Colonel Michael Randrianirina, commander of the elite CAPSAT unit, who has now been confirmed as interim president by the country’s top court.
Speaking on national television, Randrianirina said the army acted “to save the nation from collapse,” promising elections within two years.
“It was not a coup but a duty to protect our country,” he said.
The move followed weeks of nationwide protests led by young people angry over poor living conditions and alleged government corruption. The demonstrations, which began over water and electricity shortages, quickly grew into calls for political change.
The African Union has suspended Madagascar with immediate effect, while the United Nations, France, and Germany have all expressed concern over the “unconstitutional change of power.”
Rajoelina, who first took power in a 2009 military-backed coup and was re-elected in 2023, has not been seen in public for days. His office described the military action as “an illegal power grab,” insisting he remains the legitimate president.
Calm returned to the capital, Antananarivo, on Wednesday, though uncertainty remains over the country’s political future. Many citizens, however, welcomed the change, saying it offered a chance for renewal.
“It feels like we’ve just been released from prison,” said one resident in the northern city of Antsiranana.
Madagascar now joins Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Gabon, and Guinea — all former French colonies that have fallen under military control since 2020.
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