Madagascar’s political crisis deepened on Tuesday as the country’s military announced a takeover following the impeachment of President Andry Rajoelina by parliament.
Colonel Michael Randrianirina, commander of an elite military unit, declared that the armed forces were assuming control of the government to “respond to the aspirations of the Malagasy people.”
“We are establishing a national reform mechanism that responds to the aspirations of the Malagasy people,” Randrianirina said in a statement outside the presidential palace, adding that the existing government structures under the 2010 constitution had been dissolved to restore democracy and rebuild public trust.
The announcement came just hours after lawmakers voted to remove Rajoelina from office, amid reports that he had fled the country as tensions grew and divisions widened within the military.
Despite the power shift, Randrianirina said the National Assembly would continue to operate, and that a transitional structure — including a joint presidency, a functioning government, and judicial reforms supervised by the Supreme Constitutional Court — would be established to guide the country through the transition period.
The coup follows weeks of nationwide protests, many led by Gen Z activists demanding political change and greater accountability. The situation escalated over the weekend when Randrianirina and his elite CAPSAT troops joined the demonstrations.
Rajoelina later accused his opponents of attempting to seize power and went into hiding, a move that paved the way for Tuesday’s military declaration.
