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Colonel Michael Randrianirina was sworn in as Madagascar's new president on Friday, marking the climax of a dramatic power shift fueled by weeks of youth-led protests. The military commander, cheered on by crowds and trumpets at the High Constitutional Court, pledged to "defend and strengthen national unity" after assuming control in the wake of ex-president Andry Rajoelina's ousting.
Rajoelina, who fled abroad after lawmakers impeached him, has condemned the coup but faces dwindling support from both the army and public institutions. The African Union and the United Nations have denounced the takeover, calling for a peaceful restoration of constitutional order.
Randrianirina announced that a transitional military-led committee will govern for up to two years before organizing new elections. However, many analysts remain skeptical. Transparency International's Vice Chair Ketakandriana Rafitoson warned that "commitments to hand over power mean little without safeguards that prevent entrenchment."
The coup comes amid growing frustration among Madagascar's youth known as the "Gen Z movement" who initially protested chronic water and power shortages but soon turned their anger toward corruption and inequality. Despite hopes for change, some protesters remain wary of military rule. "This is a stage, not the end," said 18-year-old student Mioty Andrianambinintsoa.
Randrianirina's rise echoes Madagascar's past political turbulence. A member of the elite CAPSAT army unit, he once opposed firing on civilians during demonstrations. Now, he leads a nation grappling with extreme poverty, where three-quarters of citizens survive on less than $2 a day despite rich natural resources like vanilla and sapphires.
As celebrations continue, questions linger about Madagascar's democratic future. Whether this coup marks the beginning of reform or the recycling of old power remains to be seen, but for now, Colonel Randrianirina holds the reins of a restless nation.
