A powerful army colonel, Michael Randrianirina, is scheduled to be sworn in as Madagascar’s new president on Friday, October 17, 2025. This rapid military takeover led to the ousting of the sitting president, who has since fled the country and remains in hiding.
Colonel Michael Randrianirina, commander of an elite military unit, confirmed via state media that he would take the oath of office at the High Constitutional Court. This significant move marks his ascension to the presidency, occurring merely three days after he declared the armed forces’ seizure of power in the large Indian Ocean island nation, home to approximately 30 million people off Africa’s East coast.
On Friday morning, preparations were clearly underway at the court buildings. Soldiers stood guard at the entrances, and officials began to gather, signaling that the colonel’s inauguration would likely proceed in the Supreme Court’s main chamber.
This swift military takeover, which followed three weeks of widespread anti-government protests primarily led by young citizens, has been met with strong condemnation from the United Nations. Consequently, Madagascar has been suspended from the African Union.
The former President, Andry Rajoelina, has vanished since leaving the country. He cited fears for his life after soldiers loyal to Colonel Randrianirina initiated the rebellion.
Colonel Randrianirina, previously a relatively unknown figure, rose to prominence by leading his CAPSAT military unit in this rebellion. Interestingly, he had been imprisoned just two years prior for an attempted mutiny, spending much of his three-month detention in late 2023 and early 2024 at a military hospital.
Madagascar grapples with significant poverty, impacting roughly 75% of its population, as reported by the World Bank. The nation also has a turbulent history of political instability, marked by numerous coups and attempted takeovers. Notably, the recently ousted President Rajoelina himself first ascended to power in 2009 as a transitional leader following a military-backed coup.
Colonel Randrianirina announced that Madagascar would be governed by a military council, with him at its helm, for a period of 18 months to two years before any new elections are held. This means the young people who ignited the uprising against Rajoelina might face a considerable wait before they can elect their chosen leader.
The protests, which commenced last month, mirror similar youth-led movements seen in countries like Nepal and Sri Lanka. Initially, young Madagascans took to the streets in September to protest persistent water and power outages. However, their grievances quickly expanded to include the rising cost of living, limited opportunities, and allegations of corruption and nepotism among the ruling elite.
Colonel Randrianirina capitalized on the growing unrest last weekend, aligning himself with the anti-government protests and calling for the resignation of the President and his ministers. A brief confrontation ensued between his soldiers and gendarmerie forces loyal to Rajoelina, resulting in the death of one CAPSAT soldier, as confirmed by the colonel.
Despite the military action, the streets have remained largely free of major violence, and Colonel Randrianirina’s troops have been met with cheers and celebrations from many Malagasy citizens, who welcome the takeover.
In an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, October 15, Colonel Randrianirina described the military takeover as a commitment to “take responsibility as citizens and patriots.”
He further stated, “From now on, we will restore the country to its former glory, fight against insecurity, and gradually try to solve the social problems that Malagasy people experience,” during an interview conducted at his unit’s barracks.