Madagascar’s military leader to be sworn in as president after coup; African Union suspends country

Madagascar’s new military leader, General Michael Randrianirina, announced on Wednesday that he would soon be sworn in as the country’s president, following a coup that ousted President Andry Rajoelina.

The African Union has responded by suspending Madagascar from the continental bloc.

Rajoelina was impeached by lawmakers after fleeing abroad over the weekend amid mounting political unrest.

Despite his removal and growing demands for his resignation, including from Gen Z-led protests and widespread defections within the security forces, Rajoelina has publicly rejected the military takeover and insists he remains the country’s legitimate leader.

Earlier, Randrianirina declared that the military had assumed control of the government and dissolved all state institutions, with the exception of the lower house of parliament, the National Assembly.

More from World

How Madagascar’s Gen-Z protests forced President Rajoelina to flee Military takes over Madagascar: President impeached, state institutions dissolved

“We will be sworn in soon,” Reuters quoted the army colonel as saying to a press briefing on Wednesday, a day after the High Constitutional Court invited him to serve as president of the former French colony.

“We took responsibility yesterday.”

Two sources close to him earlier told Reuters he would be sworn in as president in the next day or two.

‘Rule of law must prevail’

A spokesperson for the African Union told Reuters on Wednesday that the bloc had suspended Madagascar with immediate effect following the recent coup, though no further details were provided.

The decision, taken by the 55-member organisation, carries significant political weight and could deepen the isolation of Madagascar’s new military leadership on the international stage.

Speaking at a meeting earlier in the day, African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said: “The rule of law must prevail over the rule of force. Our approach is grounded in law and dialogue.”

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

China seizes 60,000 maps mislabelling Taiwan, omitting South China Sea islands

Crypto kings or criminals? MIT-educated brothers stand trial over alleged $25 million crypto theft

On Tuesday, General Michael Randrianirina said a military-led committee would govern the country for up to two years alongside a transitional administration before holding fresh elections.

Randrianirina, a former commander of the elite CAPSAT unit — which helped bring Andry Rajoelina to power in a 2009 coup — distanced himself from the president last week and urged the military not to fire on protesters.

Failed promises

Rajoelina fled Madagascar on Sunday aboard a French military plane, security sources told Reuters. He has said his life was at risk and is now believed to be in Dubai, according to three diplomatic and opposition sources.

The 51-year-old former DJ rose to power in a coup in 2009 on the back of youth protests, becoming the world’s youngest head of state at 34. But promises to improve living standards and eradicate corruption were never fulfilled.

Madagascar, where the average age is less than 20, has a population of about 30 million, three-quarters of whom live in poverty. Between its independence in 1960 and 2020, GDP per capita plunged 45%, according to the World Bank.

As well as the CAPSAT unit, the paramilitary gendarmerie and the police have also broken ranks with Rajoelina.

With inputs from agencies