Madagascar was thrust into military rule on Wednesday after an elite army unit seized control of the government following the impeachment of President Andry Rajoelina
The move, which has triggered global alarm, came as parliament voted to remove the president amid escalating protests in the capital, Antananarivo.
The powerful CAPSAT military contingent, led by Colonel Michael Randrianirina, took charge just hours after the impeachment vote. Randrianirina has since been confirmed as interim president by the constitutional court and announced plans to hold elections within 18 to 24 months.
Speaking on local television, Randrianirina insisted the power grab was not a coup but an act of “responsibility” to prevent national collapse. “It wasn’t a coup — it was taking responsibility because the country was on the brink of collapse,” he said, adding that consultations were ongoing to appoint a prime minister and form a transitional government.
The colonel, a long-time critic of Rajoelina’s administration who was jailed last year for allegedly plotting a coup, said the transition would involve restructuring key state institutions and would be supervised by a committee of officers from the army, gendarmerie, and police.
Madagascar now joins a growing list of former French colonies in Africa that have fallen under military rule since 2020, including Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Guinea, and Gabon.
The takeover has been widely condemned by the international community. The African Union announced Madagascar’s immediate suspension, while the United Nations expressed “deep concern over the unconstitutional change of power.” France called for respect for democracy and the rule of law, and Germany and Russia urged restraint to prevent further instability.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC), where Rajoelina previously served as rotating chair, also voiced concern over the crisis.
Despite the turmoil, Antananarivo remained relatively calm on Wednesday. A concert held at the historic Place du 13 Mai square — a recent hotspot for protests — drew large crowds celebrating what many saw as a symbolic victory.
The youth-led Gen Z movement, which sparked the protests over water and power shortages that later evolved into broader anti-government demonstrations, welcomed the military’s intervention. “We’re ready to talk to the youth and answer the call,” Randrianirina said in response.
“We’re worried about what comes next, but we’re savouring this first victory that gave us hope,” said Fenitra Razafindramanga, captain of Madagascar’s national rugby team.
In the northern city of Antsiranana, residents expressed relief at Rajoelina’s removal. “It feels like we’ve just been released from prison,” said Muriella, a local entrepreneur.
However, Rajoelina’s camp has denounced the events as an “attempted coup,” insisting he remains president. In a statement, the presidency described the court’s decision as “illegal, irregular, and unconstitutional.”
Rajoelina, whose whereabouts remain unknown, was last seen in public a week ago. Reports suggest he may have fled with assistance from France. In a video address from an undisclosed location earlier this week, he said he was in a “safe place to protect my life.”
Rajoelina first came to power in 2009 through a military-backed coup that led to international sanctions and years of isolation. His ouster this week marks yet another turbulent chapter in Madagascar’s fragile democracy.
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