Africa-Press. After seven months in power, Colonel Mikael Randrianerina, head of the “Reconstruction Authority” in Madagascar, delivered a lengthy televised speech on Sunday, reviewing the results of a phase that observers describe as a retreat from promises.
This was only the second time Randrianerina addressed the public since taking office in October 2025, following popular protests led by “Gen Z” demanding the overthrow of the previous regime led by Andry Rajoelina, with anti-corruption and justice at the forefront of their demands.
Admission of Inability to Combat Corruption
The president used his speech to defend his government’s achievements in areas such as access to water, electricity, and higher education reform, but he did not shy away from acknowledging the limitations of what has been accomplished. The most notable admission regarding corruption was Randrianerina’s acknowledgment that “things have not really changed” in this regard, which was described by a local source as a “significant admission” given that fighting corruption was the strongest promise that fueled the popular momentum that brought him to power.
Randrianerina also announced that the national dialogue sessions scheduled to start on Wednesday would bring him together with the prime minister, the minister in charge of reconstruction, and the heads of the four Christian churches. However, this announcement raised eyebrows, as the church council had announced in late April that it was excluded from this process.
Closer Ties with Moscow Under the Guise of “Pluralism”
On the international relations front, Randrianerina denied any bias towards Russia, citing a policy of international pluralism and justifying military cooperation with Moscow by referencing the “historical use of Russian weapons” by the Malagasy army. However, this reasoning is “difficult for observers to accept,” according to a local source, in light of the increasing number of deals for the transfer of Russian equipment since he took office. Reports indicate that Russian “African Legion” forces have been deployed to train the Malagasy army, as well as to protect the transitional president himself, in addition to delivering trucks and two helicopters.
Partners or Detainees?
It is noted that the coalition that brought him to power has quickly fractured. On April 10, activists from “Gen Z” organized a peaceful march in the capital Antananarivo to demand a date for elections and expedite reforms, leading to the arrest of four of them two days later. Civil society organizations described these arrests as “arbitrary,” warning that the use of the charge of “endangering state security” recalls the same practices used against them during the ousted regime, according to a local source.
In contrast, Randrianerina accused the leaders of “Gen Z” of receiving funding from opponents of the regime, a claim rejected by the activists, who are calling for the dissolution of the constitutional court, the national assembly, and the electoral commission, which they see as obstacles to real change.
Recently, Amnesty International documented this shift, stating that Madagascar is moving “from the Gen Z uprising to military council rule, and the promise of change is evaporating.”
