Madagascar – The Madagascan army announced Tuesday morning that it had officially assumed power in the country, following the flight of President Andry Rajoelina abroad.
This comes after weeks of youth protests that escalated after an elite military unit joined the demonstrators.
“We have taken power to preserve the stability of the country,” Colonel Michael Randrianirina said on Madagascar radio.
Announcing the dissolution of all government institutions, with the exception of the House of Representatives, which voted in an emergency session to impeach President Rajoelina moments before he fled.
Rajoelina: “I left to save my life”
Late Monday evening, President Rajoelina broadcast a recorded speech on the official presidency Facebook page,
He said he left the country fearing for his life after what he described as a “military mutiny.”
He confirmed that he had to “look for a safe place” to protect himself, but did not officially announce his resignation.
He pointed out that a previous attempt to broadcast the speech on national television failed.
After soldiers attempted to seize control of the state broadcasting authority’s buildings, the presidency was forced to release the recording only on social media.
Generation Z in the forefront
These developments are the culmination of weeks of protests led by young people from Generation Z,
They called for political reforms and the departure of powerful figures, amid growing popular anger over economic decline, rising unemployment, and corruption.
The most significant shift occurred when the elite Kabsat military unit announced its support for the protesters.
She publicly called for the departure of the president and his ministers, which Rajoelina considered in his speech “an illegal attempt to seize power.”
Parliament votes on impeachment, and the army seizes power.
Despite the Madagascan army announcing the dissolution of most state institutions, it decided to keep the House of Representatives, which in turn announced the removal of President Rajoelina.
This gives formal legitimacy to the military’s actions, at a time when no roadmap or duration for the transitional period has yet been announced.
Colonel Randrianirina stressed that the army does not aim to remain in power forever,
Rather, he seeks to restore stability and organize a peaceful transfer of power, but he has not set a timetable for that.
uncertain future
Observers believe that the current events portend a new wave of political instability, which could threaten the country’s fragile democratic transition.
Amid warnings that the military takeover could turn into a long-term form of military rule unless elections are held or a transitional government is announced.
Madagascar is currently experiencing a pivotal moment in its modern political history, as popular demands for change intertwine with military movements in a complex landscape.
Between the escape of a president who had not officially resigned, a parliament that voted to remove him, and an army that announced its seizure of power,
The country appears to be at a fateful turning point that could shape its political future for years to come.
