Colonel Michael Randrianirina, flanked by senior officers, addressed the nation from outside the ceremonial presidential palace in Antananarivo, announcing that the military had 'taken power' and dissolved most state institutions. 'We have taken the power,' he said, pledging the formation of a transitional council composed of officers from the army, gendarmerie, and national police.
Randrianirina said a prime minister would soon be appointed to establish a civilian-led government and that a referendum would be held within two years to determine Madagascar's future political direction. The colonel also announced the suspension of the constitution, the High Constitutional Court, the Senate, and the National Independent Electoral Commission, leaving only the lower house of parliament intact.
The dramatic turn followed a day of extraordinary political upheaval. Earlier Tuesday, the National Assembly voted 130 to 1 to impeach President Rajoelina during a special session, rejecting his attempt to dissolve the chamber just hours before. The assembly's vice president, Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, called the president's dissolution decree 'devoid of legal validity.'
Rajoelina, who first came to power in a 2009 coup before being elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2023, fled the country over the weekend after soldiers joined the youth-led anti-government protests that have gripped the Indian Ocean island for weeks.
Reports indicate that Rajoelina departed Madagascar aboard a French army aircraft on Sunday, though French President Emmanuel Macron declined to confirm his government's involvement.
The latest turmoil was triggered by street demonstrations that began on September 25 over crippling power cuts and water shortages but quickly evolved into a broader movement denouncing corruption, poverty, and the soaring cost of living.
Led by Gen Z activists, the protests drew tens of thousands to the streets, gaining momentum after the army's elite CAPSAT unit â€" the same force that propelled Rajoelina to power in 2009 â€" declared it would 'refuse orders to shoot' demonstrators.
According to United Nations figures, at least 22 people have been killed and more than 100 injured since the unrest began, though government officials have disputed the toll.
By Tuesday evening, Madagascar's police had also joined the military and gendarmerie in supporting the protesters, effectively ending Rajoelina's grip on power.
Randrianirina said the military council would act 'to meet the aspirations of the Malagasy people' and restore stability, but offered few details about the transition ahead in a nation once again thrust into uncertainty.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
