A top army commander in Madagascar announced on Tuesday that the military had seized power following the impeachment and reported flight of President Andry Rajoelina, amid weeks of Gen Z-led protests and growing dissent within the armed forces.
Colonel Michael Randrianirina declared the military was dissolving all major state institutions except the National Assembly and would lead a transitional government for up to two years before elections. Key bodies like the Senate, electoral commission, and constitutional court were suspended.
Rajoelina, who came to power via a coup in 2009, had resisted calls to resign despite mounting demonstrations over corruption, poor services, and economic mismanagement. He reportedly fled the country Sunday aboard a French military plane after threats to his life.
Protests began on September 25 and swelled into a nationwide movement, with thousands rallying in the capital accusing Rajoelina of serving foreign interests. As security forces defected and lawmakers—including from Rajoelina’s own coalition—voted to impeach him, the military stepped in to fill the power vacuum.
The takeover was met with celebration by some protesters but concern from others calling for a swift return to civilian rule. Madagascar, one of the world’s poorest nations, remains in economic crisis, with deep public frustration driving the political upheaval.
