Antananarivo, Madagascar – October 17, 2025 – Madagascar has officially inaugurated Michael Randrianirina as its new president, ushering in a new political chapter following a recent military takeover that saw the ousting of former leader Andry Rajoelina. The transition, fueled by weeks of impassioned youth-led protests demanding accountability and reform, culminated in a swearing-in ceremony at the Constitutional Court in the capital, Antananarivo.
The event drew a significant crowd, comprising protest leaders, military officials, and international diplomats, signifying the multifaceted nature of the change in leadership. However, the inauguration’s legitimacy faced an immediate challenge from the African Union (AU), which responded by suspending Madagascar’s membership in the organization due to the military’s seizure of power.
The widespread demonstrations, initially sparked by crippling water and power shortages that have plagued the nation, unfortunately, turned violent. According to reports from the United Nations, these clashes resulted in at least 22 fatalities and over 100 injuries.
In his inaugural address, President Randrianirina declared, “Today marks a historic turning point for our country. With a people united by the desire for change and a deep love for their homeland, we open a new chapter in our nation’s history.” He pledged a commitment to collaboration with civil society and political actors to forge a new constitution and electoral laws, paving the way for future elections and referendums. The youth movement, instrumental in the uprising that led to the previous administration’s downfall, received a special commendation from the new president.
“We are committed to breaking with the past,” Randrianirina stated, emphasizing his administration’s mission to reform Madagascar’s administrative, socio-economic, and political systems for the benefit of all its citizens. Following the military intervention, most state institutions were dissolved, with the National Assembly being the primary exception.
Despite international criticism, including from the United Nations, President Randrianirina has maintained that his rise to power was not a coup, pointing to the Constitutional Court’s endorsement of his presidency as a basis for legitimacy. However, supporters of the ousted President Rajoelina have denounced the court’s ruling as unconstitutional, raising concerns about potentially deepening political instability in the former French colony.
Andry Rajoelina reportedly fled the country aboard a French military aircraft on Sunday, first to the French island of Réunion, and subsequently to Dubai.
Madagascar’s recent events place it within a growing regional trend of military-led transitions, following similar occurrences in former French colonies such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Gabon, and Guinea since 2020. This marks the third military-led transition in Madagascar’s post-independence history, with previous coups occurring in 1972 and 2009. Despite possessing abundant natural resources and remarkable biodiversity, Madagascar continues to grapple with widespread poverty, with approximately 80% of its 32 million inhabitants living below the poverty line, according to World Bank data. The flight of President Rajoelina into exile echoes the experiences of two previous Malagasy leaders, Didier Ratsiraka and Marc Ravalomanana, who also went into exile after being ousted from power.
