Madagascar is witnessing a dramatic political shift as Colonel Michael Randrianirina assumes the presidency following a wave of Gen Z-led protests that forced former President Andry Rajoelina to flee the country. Despite widespread speculation, Randrianirina insists the takeover is not a military coup.
Sworn in last month, Randrianirina’s rise came after his elite non-combatant military unit, Corps d’Administration des Personnels et des Services de l’Armée de Terre (CAPSAT), sided with protesters. On October 11, 2025, he shared a pivotal video urging officers to defy shoot-to-kill orders and support citizens protesting government corruption, power cuts, and water shortages.
“I am a military officer, but I am also part of the people,” Randrianirina said. “When you feel sorry for what the people are suffering… you cannot shoot them. That was not why I joined the military.”
Following his announcement, protesters occupied Place du 13 Mai Square in Antananarivo, and Randrianirina addressed the crowds directly from an armored vehicle, warning that Rajoelina needed to leave the country. By October 23, Rajoelina fled, and three days later, the National Assembly voted to impeach him for “desertion of duty.” Randrianirina then formally assumed leadership, dissolving the constitution and most government institutions outside the National Assembly.
The African Union has since suspended Madagascar’s membership in response to the military intervention. Yet, Randrianirina emphasizes that his actions aim to stabilize the nation rather than seize power.
“This is support for the people and the country, to avoid civil war,” he said. “We were not conducting any coup at all; it was the president himself who decided to leave the country.”
As Madagascar navigates this tense transition, Randrianirina pledges to focus on addressing poverty and restoring trust between the government, military, and citizens, signaling a new chapter in the island nation’s political history.
