Until a few days ago, few people outside Madagascar had ever heard the name Michael Randrianirina.
But within three days, the once little-known army officer has become one of the most powerful figures on the island, after leading a coup that toppled President Andry Rajoelina.
Here’s what you need to know about the man now in charge of Madagascar.
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1. He rose from obscurity to power in just three days
Before last weekend, Randrianirina was barely a public figure. That changed dramatically when he led soldiers from the elite CAPSAT unit into the capital, Antananarivo, joining massive anti-government protests. Within days, the president had fled, parliament impeached him, and Randrianirina was declared the new head of state.
2. He heads Madagascar’s powerful CAPSAT military unit
CAPSAT — the Support and Administrative Personnel Corps — is no ordinary army division. It has been at the centre of every major power shift in Madagascar’s modern history. The same unit helped bring former president Rajoelina to power in 2009.
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3. He once served as a regional governor
Randrianirina was not always in uniform. Between 2016 and 2018, he served as governor of the southern Androy region under then president Hery Rajaonarimampianina. He later returned to the army and became head of an infantry battalion in the coastal city of Toliara, a post he held until 2022.
4. He was jailed last year over coup allegations
In November 2023, Randrianirina was arrested and jailed in a maximum-security prison, accused of plotting a coup and inciting a mutiny. He was never tried and was widely seen by his supporters as a political prisoner. He was released in February this year after receiving a suspended sentence.
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5. He openly defied orders to fire on protesters
As anti-government demonstrations intensified earlier this month, led largely by young Gen Z protesters, Randrianirina recorded a video urging security forces to ignore orders to open fire. Many soldiers followed his call, joining the protesters instead. That act proved decisive in turning the tide against Rajoelina.
6. He says his priority is social welfare
After declaring himself interim president, Randrianirina told local media that his focus would be “social welfare”. It’s a pressing issue, nearly three-quarters of Madagascar’s population lives below the poverty line, according to the World Bank.
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7. He has suspended key democratic institutions
Since taking power, the colonel has suspended parliament, the Senate, the electoral commission, and even the High Constitutional Court, the same body that endorsed his takeover. He says the measures are temporary and necessary to “restore order”.
8. He plans a two-year transition to civilian rule
Randrianirina has promised that the military will hold power for “up to two years” alongside a civilian-led government before organising new elections. Critics, however, fear the timeline could be extended, as has happened after previous coups on the island.
9. His background remains largely a mystery
Very little is known about Randrianirina’s personal life. He was born in Sevohipoty, a small village in the Androy region at Madagascar’s southern tip. His exact date of birth, education and family details are not public.
10. He was once a critic of the man he just overthrew
Ironically, Rajoelina’s political rise in 2009 was made possible by the same military faction now backing Randrianirina. But in recent years, the colonel became one of Rajoelina’s fiercest critics, accusing him of corruption and mismanagement.
