Colonel Michael Randrianirina was sworn in as Madagascar’s president on Friday, following a military takeover sparked by youth-led protests that ousted former President Andry Rajoelina.
The ceremony, held at the Constitutional Court in the capital, Antananarivo, drew a large crowd, including leaders of the Gen Z Mada movement that fueled the uprising.
Randrianirina, previously head of the elite CAPSAT army unit, traded his military uniform for a suit to take the oath of office, pledging to strengthen national unity and human rights.
“Today marks a historic turning point for our country,” he declared, according to AFP, thanking young protesters for demanding change. He promised to work with national stakeholders to draft a new constitution and implement electoral reforms before holding elections within two years.
The protests, ignited last month by Gen Z Mada over chronic power and water shortages, escalated into broader calls for accountability. Rajoelina, who fled the country and was later impeached, attempted to quell the unrest by dissolving his government and holding dialogues, but these efforts failed to satisfy demonstrators. On Tuesday, Randrianirina’s troops joined thousands of protesters, leading to his announcement of a military-led transitional government.
Constitutional Court President Florent Rakotoarisoa defended the transition, rejecting international characterizations of the events as a coup and blaming the constitution for the crisis. While pro-democracy advocates express cautious optimism about Randrianirina’s leadership, they emphasize the need for his election promise to be fulfilled.
Madagascar now enters a transitional phase marked by political and legal uncertainties, with hopes pinned on Randrianirina’s commitment to systemic reforms in governance, administration, and socio-economic structures.
