Madagascar military seizes power, appoints interim leader after declaring presidency vacant

Madagascar’s military announced on Tuesday that it had seized power and appointed Colonel Michael Randrianirina as interim head of state, after parliament voted to impeach president Andry Rajoelina and the constitutional court declared the presidency vacant amid weeks of mass youth-led protests and army defections.

The powerful CAPSAT military unit, once his closest ally, declared it had seized control of the country.

Randrianirina, a career officer who leads the CAPSAT corps, appeared on national radio to confirm he was assuming authority “to safeguard the Republic” and oversee a two-year transition period before new elections are held.

“We have taken power,” he said. “The presidency is vacant. The army will work with a transitional government to restore stability and prepare the way for democratic elections.”

Read also: Madagascar plunges into chaos as Gen Z uprising drives president into hiding

Power vacuum after president’s flight

Rajoelina, 51, is believed to have fled Madagascar earlier this week after what he claimed was an attempt on his life. His office denounced the military’s actions as an “attempted coup d’état”, insisting he remains the country’s legitimate leader.

But the constitutional court said Rajoelina had effectively “abandoned his post”, paving the way for the National Assembly to impeach him and for the military to step in.

The court’s ruling followed a day of political whiplash in which the president attempted to dissolve parliament by decree, an order lawmakers ignored as they pressed ahead with impeachment proceedings.

By evening, soldiers loyal to Randrianirina had taken control of key government buildings, the state broadcaster and the presidential palace in Antananarivo.

Read also:Madagascar faces military mutiny as elite soldiers turn against president

Military-backed transition

Under the new arrangement, Randrianirina will preside over a military-led committee alongside civilian representatives tasked with running the government and preparing elections within two years.

The statement from the army said the Senate, the Constitutional Court, and several oversight bodies had been suspended “until further notice”.

“The aim,” Randrianirina said, “is to rebuild the foundations of governance, restore public trust, and prevent further bloodshed.”

Echoes of Madagascar’s past

The military intervention marked a stunning reversal of fortunes for Rajoelina, who himself rose to power through a coup in 2009 with CAPSAT’s backing. His downfall, once again at the hands of the same unit, underscores the enduring volatility of Madagascar’s politics.

Read also:Elite unit of Madagascar army seizes power in tiny Indian Ocean country

The latest crisis erupted after weeks of youth-led “Gen Z” protests that began over chronic power and water shortages and morphed into a nationwide revolt against corruption and inequality.

Crowds have continued to gather in Antananarivo’s 13 May Square—an iconic site of past uprisings—demanding a “new era” of leadership.

“This is our revolution,” said 22-year-old student Fanja Rakotobe to Reuters, waving a Malagasy flag and the skull-and-crossbones banner from the One Piece anime that has become the symbol of the movement. “We don’t want the same politicians. We want a future.”

Deep economic hardship

Madagascar, home to 31 million people, has struggled with persistent poverty, corruption, and the effects of severe climate disasters. The World Bank estimates that nearly 80 percent of the population lives in extreme poverty, while frequent blackouts and food shortages have fuelled anger at the government.

Rajoelina’s critics accuse him of mismanagement and of relying too heavily on France, the island’s former colonial ruler. His supporters say he was the target of a military power grab disguised as reform.

As night fell on Tuesday, the streets of Antananarivo remained tense but calm, with soldiers patrolling government buildings and protesters celebrating what they called “the end of an era.”

Foreign governments have yet to recognise the new military-backed administration, and regional mediators are expected to call for restraint and dialogue.

For now, Madagascar stands at another crossroads, its presidency vacant, its army in charge, and its future once again in the hands of those promising to rebuild democracy after tearing it down.