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Coups d'etat

Madagascar's Military Coup: A New Era of Instability

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The island nation of Madagascar has been plunged into further instability after a military coup ousted President Andry Rajoelina and installed Colonel Michael Randrianirina as the new leader. The coup, which was met with international condemnation, came just three days after the colonel announced that the armed forces were taking power. The United Nations has described the takeover as an unconstitutional change of government, and the African Union has suspended the country from its membership.

Key Takeaways:

  • The military coup was led by Colonel Michael Randrianirina, who has been sworn in as the new president of Madagascar.
  • The coup was preceded by three weeks of anti-government protests by mainly young people, who were demanding the resignation of President Rajoelina and his government ministers.
  • The protests were sparked by issues such as regular water and power outages, the high cost of living, and alleged corruption and nepotism by the elite.
  • Colonel Randrianirina has announced that a military council will run the country for between 18 months and two years before any new elections, leaving young Madagascans with a long wait before they can choose their new leader.
  • The coup has been met with international condemnation, and Madagascar has been suspended from the African Union.
  • President Rajoelina's whereabouts are unknown after he left the country, claiming his life was in danger.
  • Colonel Randrianirina was briefly imprisoned in 2023 for an attempted mutiny and was released after three months.

Statistics:

  • Around 75% of the population in Madagascar lives in poverty, according to the World Bank.
  • Madagascar is the world's largest vanilla provider.
  • The country has seen several coups and attempted coups since gaining independence in 1960.
  • The population of Madagascar is around 30 million people.
  • The country has been suspended from the African Union due to the unconstitutional change of government.

Sources:

  • "Madagascar's military takes power, president flees" by Gerald Imray, Reuters, March 2024.
  • "Madagascar coup: UN condemns 'unconstitutional' takeover" by BBC News, March 2024.
  • World Bank, "Madagascar Overview", March 2024.

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