Colonel Michael Randrianirina was sworn in as Madagascar’s interim president on Friday, October 17, 2025, marking a dramatic shift to military-led rule following weeks of youth-led protests and the ousting of civilian leader Andry Rajoelina.
The 52-year-old commander of the elite CAPSAT special forces unit took the oath in the High Constitutional Court at 10 a.m. local time, flanked by military officers, politicians, representatives of the Gen Z youth-led protest movement, and several foreign delegations, including from the United States, the European Union, Russia, and France, as witnessed by AFP journalists.
He pledged to “refound the Republic of Madagascar” and restore stability to the nation of 30 million, where the average age is under 20 and widespread poverty fuels unrest.
“Today marks a historic turning point for our country. With people in full fervour, driven by the desire for change and a deep love for their homeland, we joyfully open a new chapter in the life of our nation,” Randrianirina said during the ceremony.
The ceremony capped a chaotic week that began with Rajoelina’s flight from the country on Sunday, October 12, aboard a French military plane amid threats to his life, as confirmed by security sources and opposition leaders.
The former DJ-turned-president, who seized power in a 2009 military-backed coup, was impeached by parliament on Tuesday, October 14, on charges including desertion of duty and corruption.
His 15-year tenure had been plagued by accusations of elite entrenchment, with allies suggesting he is now in exile in Paris, though his exact whereabouts remain unconfirmed.
Randrianirina’s rapid ascent stemmed from late September protests organized under the “Gen Z Madagascar” banner, which erupted over chronic power outages lasting up to eight hours daily, water shortages, and economic stagnation affecting half the population in extreme poverty.
Drawing inspiration from global youth movements in Kenya and Indonesia, the demonstrations swelled into calls for systemic change, drawing tens of thousands to Antananarivo’s Place du 13 Mai.
On October 11, Randrianirina—previously imprisoned in 2023 for alleged mutiny plotting—publicly defected, urging troops not to fire on demonstrators and aligning CAPSAT with the uprising.
By Tuesday, his forces had stormed the presidential palace, dissolving key institutions like the Senate and electoral commission while sparing the National Assembly.
The High Constitutional Court endorsed the takeover, appointing Randrianirina for an 18-to-24-month transition to enact reforms and hold elections, with a council blending military and civilian voices. He vowed dialogue with protesters, promising to address utilities and insecurity, and denied staging a coup, citing parliamentary and judicial backing.
“We will work hand in hand with all the driving forces of the nation to draft a fine constitution… and to agree on new electoral laws for the organisation of elections and referendums,” he said, thanking the youth for spearheading the protests that ousted Rajoelina.
“We are committed to breaking with the past,” Randrianirina added. “Our main mission is to thoroughly reform the country’s administrative, socio-economic and political systems of governance.”
Celebrations erupted in the capital, with youth chanting for change as military patrols maintained order, though at least 22 deaths were reported in earlier clashes.Internationally, the move has sparked condemnation.
The African Union suspended Madagascar’s membership on Wednesday, October 15, demanding a return to constitutional rule. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres decried the “unconstitutional change,” while France urged civilian involvement amid youth mobilization.
The U.S. and regional powers like South Africa offered muted responses, but the coup echoes a regional trend of juntas in Mali and Niger since 2020. Madagascar, famed for its lemurs and resources like vanilla and nickel, has endured instability since 1960 independence, including coups in 1972 and 2009.
As Randrianirina—a charismatic, devout Christian—takes the helm, the focus turns to whether his regime can bridge generational divides and deliver promised elections, or risk further turmoil in this biodiversity hotspot plagued by underdevelopment.
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