Africa-Press – Angola. The new acting president of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Head of State of Madagascar, Andrey Rajoelina, has held office since December 2023, after winning the presidential election in his country.
The politician previously served as president for three non-consecutive terms: from 2009 to 2014 and from 2019 to 2023. He began his political career as administrator of the capital, Antananarivo, where he gained notoriety through popular policies.
Andry Rajoelina was born in Antsirabe on May 30, 1974, into a relatively wealthy family and rose quickly in politics, rising from municipal administrator to opposition leader and, later, Head of State.
Before entering politics, he was a successful DJ and businessman, working in areas such as event planning, advertising, and media.
He founded the company Show Business, Injet (digital printing) and acquired the Viva Radio and TV stations, renaming them Viva FM and Viva TV.Married to Mialy Razakandisa and father of three children: Arena, Ilontosa, and Ilona, he came to power in Madagascar in 2009 through a series of events that culminated in a coup d’état and, subsequently, elections.
In 2009, he led protests against then-President Marc Ravalomanana, capitalizing on a climate of popular dissatisfaction. The resulting political crisis led to his appointment as president by the army, a process considered illegitimate by many.
After a transition period, Andry
Rajoelina was elected president in 2018, consolidating his position in power.
In December 2023, he was re-elected
with 59% of the vote, demonstrating his commitment to Madagascar’s development and improving the population’s quality of life.He has also demonstrated concern for environmental issues, such as protecting biodiversity and combating deforestation.
His term has been marked by efforts to promote economic development, improve his country’s infrastructure, and attract foreign investment.
The Angolan Head of State, João Lurenço, then acting president of SADC, witnessed the inauguration of Andry Rajoelina in 2023 in the Malagasy capital, in the presence of other foreign dignitaries.
President João Lourenço responded to his Malagasy counterpart’s invitation to attend the inauguration ceremony, given that, in addition to the good relations between the two countries, he was also assuming responsibilities as leader of SADC at the time.
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