Madagascar plunged into political chaos on Tuesday when the military declared that it had seized control of the government, just hours after weeks of youth-led street protests climaxed in the impeachment and exile of President Andry Rajoelina.
Colonel Michael Randrianirina, a high-ranking army official who led the coup, announced on state radio that the military had “seized power” to restore stability and order following what he referred to as a “leadership crisis.”
We have taken over the state,” Randrianirina stated. “Except for the National Assembly, all institutions are dismantled.”
Later, the colonel told reporters that a two-year transition period would see a civilian interim government shared with a military-led transitional council before new democratic elections were held.
Political Breakdown and Military Takeover
By a sweeping edict, the junta put a number of institutions on hold, including the Senate, the High Constitutional Court, the Independent National Electoral Commission, the High Court of Justice, and the High Council for the Defense of Human Rights and the Rule of Law.
The events of the day were the culmination of a weeks-long political showdown. President Rajoelina, 51, who originally rose to power in a coup in 2009, was removed in almost identical circumstances.
Lawmakers went ahead to impeach him on Tuesday, accusing him of “violations incompatible with presidential duties.” Rajoelina attempted in the morning to dissolve parliament by decree, but the move failed, leaving a constitutional vacuum that was then filled by the army when it seized power.
His departure was consistent with several military and diplomatic reports. Rajoelina departed the country on Sunday aboard a French military aircraft, stating that his life was under threat. During a televised speech before he went missing, he condemned the coup as an “illegal coup” and stated that he had “moved temporarily for security reasons.”
Youth-Led Uprising and Mass Defections
The revolution came after nearly three weeks of unprecedented protests led by Generation Z protesters, angered by worsening living conditions, joblessness, and systemic corruption.
The protests began on September 25, initially as anti-water and anti-electricity shortages demonstrations, but later became a broad movement against government maladministration and foreign interference.
Outside Antananarivo’s historic 13 May Square, hundreds of thousands of youthful demonstrators marched down palm-lined boulevards, brandishing Malagasy flags and placards labeling Rajoelina a “French puppet” — an implication of his dual French citizenship and close ties with Paris.
Demonstrators carried the skull-and-crossbones emblem of the Japanese cartoon One Piece, which has become the de facto flag of the Gen Z protest movement throughout Africa.
As pressure heightened, the elite CAPSAT military division that had previously stuck by Rajoelina defected at the weekend, stating it would no longer fire at protesters. The gendarmerie and police quickly followed suit, leaving Rajoelina in the lurch and unable to keep going.
Randrianirina’s Return and Military Intentions
Colonel Randrianirina, a prominent 2009 coup leader in Madagascar, reappeared in mid-crisis. To thousands at 13 May Square, he asked them: “Are you ready to accept a military takeover?” — a challenge that was met with deafening cheers by protesters clamoring for change.
Speaking in his Tuesday declaration, Randrianirina also said the military coup was necessary to “restore peace, guarantee public safety, and restore national trust.” The transition, he promised, would end with new elections and a “fresh start” for the island nation.
Public Reaction and Cautious Optimism
There were festivities in parts of the capital as word of Rajoelina’s ousting spread. “We’re happy he’s gone. Now we can rebuild our country,” declared Fih Nomensanahary, a 17-year-old high school student waving a national flag.
Others, however, urged restraint. “Military rule cannot be the solution. They must hand power back to civilians in a hurry,” declared Rezafy Lova, a 68-year-old IT consultant, in reaction to widespread fears of long-term military rule.
Economic Collapse and Extreme Inequality
Madagascar, which is inhabited by roughly 30 million people, remains one of the poorest nations in the world despite its incredibly wealthy natural resources. The World Bank estimates that roughly 75% of its people are poor, and GDP per capita has fallen by nearly half since 1960.
Decades of political upheaval, graft, and repeated coups have frustrated economic growth. The latest upheaval could further weaken investor confidence and impact key services in a country already facing inflation and food shortages, analysts say.
International Reactions and Next Steps
Foreign observers have urged calm and negotiations. The African Union, in a statement, was “deeply concerned” and issued a call for the restoration of constitutional order at once, and France, Madagascar’s former colonial power, urged calm and a “peaceful political solution.”
Diplomatic sources report that the new council of soldiers aims to issue invitations to all members of civil society, opposition parties, and religious groups to participate in the transition.
But questions remain over how long the military intends to maintain power — and whether the new leadership will be able to deliver promises of reform without repeating the cycles of coup and corruption that have plagued the island nation for decades.
