Ousted President Andry Rajoelina has confirmed he fled Madagascar between October 11 and 12, citing "explicit and extremely serious threats" against his life. His departure followed weeks of youth-led Gen Z protests over persistent water and power cuts. The island nation is now under military rule. Colonel Michael Randrianirina, the leader of the military rebellion and a vocal critic of Rajoelina, is set to be sworn in as the new president on Friday (October 17). Randrianirina, whose elite CAPSAT unit took power on Tuesday (October 14) following Rajoelina's impeachment, said that the "military takeover was not a coup." He has announced the military will rule alongside a transitional government for up to two years before organising new elections. The takeover has been welcomed by the youth protest movement but has drawn international concern, with the African Union suspending the nation and the UN calling the change of power “unconstitutional”.
