Army colonel to be sworn in as Madagascar’s new president

Madagascar’s new military ruler, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, said he will be sworn in as president on Friday and was open to talks with the African Union, after it suspended the country’s membership following a coup to oust President Andry Rajoelina.

Rajoelina, whom lawmakers impeached after he fled abroad during the weekend, has condemned the takeover and refused to step down despite youth-led Gen Z protests asking him to quit and widespread defections in the security forces.

“Colonel Michael Randrianirina will be sworn in as the President for the Refoundation of the Republic of Madagascar during a formal hearing,” Randrianirina said in a statement late on Wednesday, adding that the High Constitutional Court would perform the ceremony.

The African Union announced on Wednesday that the bloc had suspended Madagascar with immediate effect following the coup, and called for the restoration of civilian-led governance as well as elections.

Randrianirina told a press conference on Thursday that the bloc’s decision was expected.

“From now on, there will be behind-the-scenes negotiations, we’ll see how things unfold,” he said.

Suspension by the 55-member bloc carries political weight and could isolate the country’s new leadership.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday condemned “the unconstitutional change of government in Madagascar and calls for the return to constitutional order and the rule of law,” said his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. 

“The Secretary-General encourages all the Malagasy stakeholders, including the youth, to work together to address the underlying causes of instability in the country.

He reiterates the availability of the United Nations to support national efforts towards the attainment of that goal,” Dujarric said. 

Randrianirina said earlier that the military had taken power and dissolved all institutions except the lower house of parliament, or National Assembly.

He also said that a committee led by the military would rule for up to two years alongside a transitional government before organising new elections.

Randrianirina was a commander in the elite CAPSAT army unit that played a role in the 2009 coup that brought Rajoelina to power but broke ranks with him last week, urging soldiers not to fire on protesters.

Madagascar’s population of about 30 million people has an average age of less than 20 years. Three-quarters of the people live in poverty.

Between its independence in 1960 and 2020, GDP per capita plunged 45%, according to the World Bank.

• Reporting by Lovasoa Rabary; additional reporting by Michelle Nichols; Writing by George Obulutsa; Editing by Ammu Kannampilly, Toby Chopra, William Maclean