Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina was ousted Tuesday in a military coup following weeks of youth-led protests over poverty, power outages, and lack of opportunity.
The elite CAPSAT military unit, led by Col. Michael Randrianirina, announced it had seized power after parliament voted to impeach Rajoelina, who fled the country citing safety concerns.
The coup marks a dramatic escalation in Madagascar’s ongoing political instability, with the military suspending key democratic institutions and promising a civilian government soon.
Col. Michael Randrianirina, standing outside the presidential palace in Antananarivo, declared the military’s intent to form a council of armed forces and gendarmerie officers to govern temporarily.
The constitution and High Constitutional Court’s powers were suspended, with a referendum planned in two years.
Rajoelina, who came to power in a 2009 military-backed coup, attempted to dissolve parliament’s lower house to avoid impeachment but was overruled by lawmakers’ overwhelming vote.
His office condemned the military’s actions as an “illegal declaration” and a “serious breach of the rule of law,” asserting that the state remains intact.
The African Union and French President Emmanuel Macron expressed concern, urging against unconstitutional changes and calling the situation “greatly worrying.”
The coup followed weeks of Gen Z-led protests, initially sparked by chronic electricity and water shortages, which grew into broader demonstrations against government corruption, unemployment, and poverty affecting 75% of Madagascar’s 30 million people.
On Saturday, CAPSAT troops joined protesters, shifting the balance against Rajoelina, who went into hiding, claiming threats to his life.
Protesters, inspired by youth movements in Nepal and Sri Lanka, voiced frustration over systemic issues.
“We do not get a constant supply of electricity and water from the government,” said protester Soavololona Faraniaina, highlighting the dire conditions impacting education and opportunity.
Madagascar, the world’s largest vanilla producer, has faced persistent poverty and political instability since gaining independence from France in 1960.
The U.S. State Department urged a peaceful resolution in line with constitutional order, as celebrations erupted in the capital.