Madagascar's Military Coup: A New Era of Uncertainty

Madagascar's president, Andry Rajoelina, was ousted in a military coup led by army colonel Michael Randrianirina, who took the oath of office to become the new president just three days after the takeover. The coup came after three weeks of anti-government protests by mainly young people, who were dissatisfied with the high rates of poverty and lack of opportunities in the country. The protests echoed those in other countries, including Nepal, Sri Lanka, and elsewhere. Randrianirina, who emerged from relative obscurity to lead the rebellion, has promised to restore the country to its former glory and solve the social problems faced by Malagasy people.

Key Takeaways:

• The military coup in Madagascar has been condemned by the United Nations as an unconstitutional change of government, leading to the country being suspended from the African Union.
• President Andry Rajoelina was impeached in a vote in parliament on Tuesday, right before the colonel announced the military was taking power.
• Col. Michael Randrianirina, the commander of an elite army unit, was briefly imprisoned two years ago for an attempted mutiny and was detained in a military hospital for most of the three months before his release.
• Madagascar has high rates of poverty, affecting around 75% of the population, according to the World Bank.
• The former French colony has a tumultuous history of political instability since gaining independence in 1960, including several coups and attempted coups.
• Randrianirina has promised to run the country for between 18 months and two years before any new elections, which may mean the young people who inspired the uprising against Rajoelina will have a long wait before they can choose their new leader.
• There has been little significant reaction to the military takeover from other countries, including Madagascar's former colonial ruler France.
• The UN Secretary-General has condemned the unconstitutional change of government in Madagascar, calling for the return to constitutional order and the rule of law.

Statistics:

• Around 30 million people live in Madagascar, which is an Indian Ocean island off Africa's east coast.
• Madagascar has high rates of poverty, affecting around 75% of the population, according to the World Bank.
• The country has a population of around 30 million people.
• The protests, which began last month, have echoed other Gen Z-led uprisings in Nepal, Sri Lanka, and elsewhere.
• Randrianirina's troops have been cheered and their takeover celebrated by Madagascans.
• The colonel was detained in a military hospital for most of the three months before his release.

Sources:

• Associated Press: "Madagascar's army colonel sworn in as new president after coup"
• United Nations: "Secretary-General condemns unconstitutional change of government in Madagascar"
• World Bank: "Madagascar Overview"