
A senior officer in Madagascar’s elite military unit, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, announced on Tuesday that the armed forces had taken control of the government, just hours after parliament voted to impeach President Andry Rajoelina, who has reportedly fled the country.
Colonel Randrianirina, from the CAPSAT unit, declared the suspension of the 2010 Constitution and the formation of a transitional government, citing “repeated violations of the Constitution, disregard for human rights, and the plundering of national resources,” which he said have led to economic collapse and the mass exodus of young people.
He stated that the transitional authority’s goal is to “restore democracy, rebuild trust in state institutions, and establish a government based on justice, good governance, and accountability.”
Under the new arrangement, several key institutions — including the Senate, Constitutional Court, and High Constitutional Court — will be suspended, while the National Assembly remains functional. A new High Reform Court and other judicial bodies will be created to guide the two-year transition before a national referendum and elections.
Earlier, President Rajoelina described the events as an ongoing “coup” and urged citizens to remain calm in a video message before reportedly being flown out of the country on a French military plane.
The unrest in the former French colony has entered its third week, driven largely by Gen Z protesters frustrated by corruption, rising living costs, unemployment, and persistent power and water shortages.
According to UN estimates, at least 22 people have died and over 100 others injured during the demonstrations — figures the government disputes.
Rajoelina, who first rose to power in 2009 after a popular uprising, was re-elected in 2018 and 2023 amid widespread opposition boycotts and growing criticism of his leadership.