Madagascar: Military Takes Power After President's Impeachment Vote

Madagascar is witnessing a familiar situation as military forces announced on Tuesday that they are "taking power" following a vote by the National Assembly to oust the disputed President Andry Rajoelina, who initially came to power through a coup in 2009 under similar circumstances.

The military unit supporting the widespread protests on this particularly impoverished island in the Indian Ocean made this declaration in front of the presidential palace in central Antananarivo, shortly after the Assembly voted to remove the head of state, who is believed to have left the country.

"We will take power starting today and dissolve the Senate and the Constitutional Court. The National Assembly will be allowed to continue its work," Colonel Michael Randrianirina stated to AFPTV in front of the presidential palace.

Following this announcement, celebrations and concerts erupted in the May 13 square, where Malagasy flags and songs of jubilation filled the symbolic site, named in honor of those killed during a popular uprising in 1972 that led to the departure of the first president.

The Constitutional Court acknowledged the "vacancy" of the presidential position and "invited" in a statement "the competent military authority embodied by Colonel Randrianirina Michaël to assume the functions of head of state."

Facing protests and holed up in an unknown location, Andry Rajoelina, who had previously dissolved the Assembly earlier on Tuesday, denounced the impeachment vote as a "meeting... lacking any legal basis" and labeled it a "military coup attempt." "The president remains fully in office," he insists.

"He is not in Madagascar, and he dares to issue such a decree. It is truly disrespectful to the Malagasy people. And it is unjust; we will not accept this," said one of the thousands of protesters on the streets on Tuesday, Koloina Rakotomavonirina, a 26-year-old engineer.

According to French radio RFI, Andry Rajoelina was evacuated by a French military plane on Sunday. He had been named transitional president by the military following a popular uprising in 2009.

After stepping back in 2014, he was elected president in 2018 and re-elected in 2023 for a five-year term during a vote boycotted by the opposition.

"We will establish a committee composed of officers from the army, gendarmerie, and national police, possibly including some high-ranking civilian advisors. This committee will handle the presidential responsibilities. At the same time, after a few days, we will set up a civilian government," Colonel Randrianirina assured.

The Constitution has also been suspended, announced the officer who heads the Capsat. This military unit, which played a key role in the 2009 coup, shifted the balance of power by joining the protests that began on September 25.

Its officers called on security forces to "refuse to shoot" at protesters before joining them in the capital's center.

Most of the armed forces have since followed suit, changing command, including the gendarmerie, which had been at the forefront of suppressing protests. At least 22 people were killed at the onset of these protests, with over a hundred injured, according to United Nations reports.

A total of 130 out of 163 deputies, more than the required two-thirds majority, voted on Tuesday in favor of ousting Andry Rajoelina. This was validated by the Constitutional Court, whose dissolution was also announced on Tuesday by Colonel Randrianirina.

Madagascar, an island with a very poor population, has a long history of popular uprisings followed by the establishment of transitional military governments.

The fleeing president stated on Tuesday that he was engaged in "several official visits planned to friendly countries, members of SADC," the Southern African Development Community.

Uncertainty continues to grip this impoverished island in the Indian Ocean, where thousands of protesters gathered again on Tuesday in Antananarivo.

As has been the case since September 25, these protests have been led by young people mobilized by the Gen Z collective, joined by public officials called to strike by various unions and protesters from all generations.

"Everything is corrupt in Madagascar. We have had enough. We want real systemic change... Finally have a sustainable and happy future," testified protester Koloina Rakotomavonirina.

At least 80% of Madagascar's 32 million inhabitants live on less than 15,000 ariary per day (2.80 euros), the poverty line established by the World Bank.