Madagascars coup chief set to be sworn in as President after navy takeover

An Army colonel who seized energy in a navy coup was set to be sworn in as Madagascar’s new chief on Friday (October 17, 2025) in a lightning-fast energy seize that ousted the President and despatched him fleeing from the nation into hiding.

Col. Michael Randrianirina, the Commander of an elite military unit, will take the oath of workplace on the nation’s High Constitutional Court, he stated in a press release printed on state media. His ascent to the Presidency would come simply three days after he introduced that the armed forces had been taking energy within the sprawling Indian Ocean island of round 30 million folks off Africa’s East coast.

Preparations had been being made on the court docket buildings early Friday (October 17, 2025), with troopers guarding entrances and officers starting to reach. It appeared the colonel would take the oath within the Supreme Court’s fundamental chamber.

The navy takeover — which got here after three weeks of anti-government protests by primarily younger folks — has been condemned by the United Nations and led to Madagascar being suspended from the African Union.

President Andry Rajoelina’s whereabouts are unknown after he left the nation claiming his life was at risk following the revolt by troopers loyal to Col. Randrianirina.

Col. Randrianirina, who emerged from relative obscurity to steer the revolt by his CAPSAT navy unit, was briefly imprisoned two years in the past for an tried mutiny. He stated he spent many of the three months he was detained in late 2023 and early 2024 at a navy hospital.

Madagascar has excessive charges of poverty, which have an effect on round 75% of the inhabitants, based on the World Bank. It additionally has a tumultuous historical past of political instability that has included a number of coups and tried coups. Mr. Rajoelina himself got here to energy as a transitional chief in 2009 after a military-backed coup.

Col. Randrianirina has stated Madagascar might be run by a navy council with him as President for between 18 months and two years earlier than any new elections, which means the younger individuals who impressed the rebellion towards Mr. Rajoelina might have a protracted wait earlier than they can select their new chief.

The protests, which started final month, have echoed different Gen Z-led uprisings in Nepal, Sri Lanka and elsewhere. Young Madagascans first took to the streets in September to rally towards common water and energy outages, however have since raised different points, together with the price of residing, the shortage of alternatives, and alleged corruption and nepotism by the elite.

Col. Randrianirina seized on the momentum final weekend by turning towards Mr. Rajoelina and becoming a member of the anti-government protests that referred to as for the President and authorities Ministers to step down. There was a short conflict between his troopers and members of the gendarmerie safety forces nonetheless loyal to Mr. Rajoelina, throughout which one CAPSAT soldier was killed, the colonel stated.

But there was no main violence on the streets, and Col. Randrianirina’s troops have been cheered and their takeover celebrated by Madagascans.

Col. Randrianirina stated in an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday (October 15) that the navy takeover was a transfer to “take duty as residents and patriots”.

“From now on, we’ll restore the nation to its former glory, combat towards insecurity, and regularly attempt to resolve the social issues that Malagasy folks expertise,” the Colonel stated in an interview at his unit’s barracks.