Madagascar has plunged into political turmoil as the military seized control of the government following days of massive Gen Z-led protests that forced President Andry Rajoelina to flee the country.
According to Al Jazeera, a military colonel, Michael Randrianirina, announced the coup on Tuesday in front of the ceremonial presidential palace in the capital, Antananarivo.
“We have taken the power,” Colonel Randrianirina declared, adding that all government institutions — except the lower house of parliament — had been dissolved. He said a transitional council made up of army and gendarmerie officers would now govern the country, while a referendum would be held within two years to return power to civilians.
The military also suspended the constitution and the powers of the High Constitutional Court.
Rajoelina reportedly fled Madagascar on Sunday aboard a French military aircraft amid defections within the armed forces and escalating protests driven by young citizens demanding his resignation. Reuters reports that the embattled leader struck a deal with French President Emmanuel Macron before leaving the country.
What began on September 25 as demonstrations over water and electricity shortages quickly evolved into a nationwide uprising against corruption, poor governance, and deteriorating public services.
By Monday, thousands of demonstrators had taken over major squares in Antananarivo, chanting “the president must quit now,” as sections of the army refused orders to disperse the crowds.
Rajoelina, who first came to power in a 2009 coup and returned to the presidency in 2023, had earlier lost the support of CAPSAT, the elite military unit that helped him seize power years ago.
Tensions climaxed when Rajoelina attempted to dissolve the National Assembly by decree, prompting lawmakers to initiate impeachment proceedings that led to his formal removal.
In a video message posted before his departure, Rajoelina said he fled “in fear for [his] life,” describing the protests as “an attempt to destabilise the nation.”
The developments in Madagascar mirror a growing wave of youth-driven political uprisings across the globe, echoing similar movements recently seen in Nepal and parts of Africa.
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