Madagascar’s army states it has taken power from President

(MENAFN) An elite unit of Madagascar’s armed forces has announced that it has taken control of the country from President Andry Rajoelina, following weeks of mass demonstrations driven largely by discontented youth.

Standing outside the presidential palace in Antananarivo on Tuesday, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, head of the powerful CAPSAT (Personnel Administration and Technical and Administrative Services Corps), declared that the military would assume leadership, dissolve several democratic institutions including the electoral commission, and organize elections within two years.

He said that young demonstrators would have a role in shaping the transition since “the movement was created in the streets so we have to respect their demands.”
Thousands of supporters and soldiers filled the streets of the capital, waving flags and celebrating what appeared to be President Rajoelina’s ouster. CAPSAT, which had once backed Rajoelina when he first rose to power in 2009, switched allegiance to the protest movement over the weekend.

Madagascar’s constitutional court subsequently named Col. Randrianirina as interim leader, although the president’s office insisted that Rajoelina remained in power and condemned what it described as an “attempted coup d’état.”

Rajoelina’s exact location remains unclear, though he has claimed to be in a “safe place” after surviving what he called an assassination attempt by “military personnel and politicians.”

CAPSAT has rejected any involvement in the alleged plot. Some reports suggested that the president may have been evacuated abroad on a French military aircraft, though this has not been verified.

The US State Department urged restraint and called on all sides “to pursue a peaceful solution in line with the constitutional order.”

Col. Randrianirina described the country as being in disarray: “Chaos because there’s no president – he’s gone abroad.”

The turmoil began more than two weeks ago, sparked by protests over severe water and electricity shortages. The movement quickly expanded to reflect deep frustration with unemployment, corruption, and rising living costs. Clashes between demonstrators and security forces have left at least 22 dead and over 100 injured, according to the UN—figures the Malagasy government has dismissed as “rumours and misinformation.”

Rajoelina, once hailed as a youthful reformer when he became president at 34, had long faced criticism over alleged favoritism and corruption, which he has denied. Despite losing support, he attempted to dissolve parliament to block a motion to remove him for “abandonment of post,” but the move failed. Lawmakers later voted overwhelmingly—130 in favor with one blank ballot—to impeach him, including many members of his own party, Irmar.

Rajoelina rejected the outcome, calling it “null and void.”

The African Union condemned the military’s intervention, warning against “any attempt at unconstitutional changes of government,” while French President Emmanuel Macron expressed concern over the “greatly worrying” situation.

Madagascar, one of the world’s poorest nations, remains mired in instability. According to the World Bank, three-quarters of its 30 million citizens live below the poverty line—a stark backdrop to the country’s recurring cycles of political upheaval.

MENAFN15102025000045017640ID1110200526