Antananarivo, Madagascar –
Army Colonel Michael Randrianirina, commander of Madagascar’s elite CAPSAT unit, has been sworn in as the country’s new president following a military coup that ousted President Andry Rajoelina, who has since fled the country.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the High Constitutional Court in Antananarivo before nine red-robed judges, just three days after Randrianirina declared that the military had taken control of the government. The colonel, dressed in a dark suit and blue tie, pledged to lead a military council that will govern for 18 months to two years before organizing new elections.
The United Nations and the African Union have condemned the takeover, calling it an unconstitutional change of government, while France, Madagascar’s former colonial power, has yet to issue a strong response. The AU has suspended Madagascar’s membership following the coup.
Former President Rajoelina’s whereabouts remain unknown, though reports indicate he escaped aboard a French military plane after alleging threats to his life. His impeachment by parliament preceded the military’s takeover, marking another chapter in the country’s history of political instability.
Colonel Randrianirina, 50, previously faced imprisonment for an attempted mutiny in 2023, spending several months in a military hospital before his release. In his first public statement as head of state, he vowed to “restore the country to its former glory, fight insecurity, and address social issues.”
The coup follows weeks of youth-led protests over power outages, corruption, and unemployment—demonstrations that Randrianirina ultimately joined. Despite isolated clashes, the takeover was largely peaceful and has been celebrated by many citizens.
Madagascar, a nation of about 30 million people, remains one of the world’s poorest countries, with 75% of the population living in poverty, according to the World Bank.
