ANTANANARIVO:Colonel Michael Randrianirina, leader of Madagascar’s recent military coup, has been sworn in as president following days of political upheaval that forced his predecessor, Andry Rajoelina, into exile.
The inauguration ceremony, held at the High Constitutional Court in Antananarivo, drew cheers, blaring trumpets, and raised swords from soldiers and supporters.
Randrianirina’s takeover came in the wake of weeks of youth-driven protests over widespread poverty, power shortages, and unemployment.
His swearing-in followed swift ratification by the High Constitutional Court, despite international condemnation.
Both the African Union and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres denounced the coup, calling for a swift return to constitutional order.
The new military ruler has announced plans for a two-year transitional period, during which a joint military-civilian committee will govern before new elections are held.
I will dedicate all my strength to defending and strengthening national unity and human rights, Randrianirina declared, pledging to uphold his duties as president.
However, analysts remain sceptical about the promise to hand power back to civilians. Commitments like ‘we will hand over in two years’ are weak unless backed by safeguards and accountability mechanisms, said Ketakandriana Rafitoson, Vice-Chair of Transparency International Madagascar.
While many young protesters celebrated the downfall of Rajoelina himself a former coup leader in 2009 others expressed unease at the army’s swift consolidation of power.
This is just a stage; our aims haven’t been achieved, said 18-year-old Mioty Andrianambinintsoa outside the court.
“We want a government that truly serves the people, added Francko Ramananvarivo, 23.
Randrianirina, a commander in the elite CAPSAT military unit, previously broke ranks during the protests by urging soldiers not to open fire on demonstrators.
He has positioned himself as a populist figure sympathetic to the grievances of Madagascar’s youth.
With a population of 30 million and an average age under 20, Madagascar remains one of the world’s poorest nations despite its rich natural resources, including vanilla, nickel, sapphires, and ilmenite.
The World Bank reports that between 1960 and 2020, the country’s GDP per capita declined by 45 percent, leaving the average citizen earning less than $600 a year.
The latest unrest reflects long-standing frustrations with inequality and government mismanagement on the Indian Ocean island, which has endured multiple coups since independence.
