Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. Colonel Michael Randrianirina was sworn in as Madagascar’s president on Friday, 17 October.
His appointment follows a recent military takeover that saw President Andry Rajoelina leave the country.
The High Constitutional Court formalised Randrianirina’s appointment during a ceremony on Friday. Randrianirina said:
“Today marks a historic turning point for our country. With a people in full fervour, driven by the desire for change and a deep love for their homeland, we joyfully open a new chapter in the life of our nation.”
He pledged to work closely with all national stakeholders to draft a robust constitution and to establish new electoral laws for the organisation of elections and referendums. Said Randrianirina:
“We are committed to breaking with the past… Our main mission is to thoroughly reform the country’s administrative, socioeconomic and political systems of governance.”
Randrianirina said earlier that the military had assumed control and dissolved all institutions except the lower house of parliament, the National Assembly.
The 51-year-old commander of the CAPSAT unit has pledged to hold elections within 18 to 24 months and told local media that consultations were underway to appoint a consensus prime minister.
Rajoelina’s office confirmed in a statement late Wednesday that he left the country the same weekend CAPSAT sided with protesters, citing concerns for his safety. His current whereabouts were not disclosed.
Media reports indicated that Rajoelina was evacuated on Sunday aboard a French military plane to the French island of Reunion, before travelling on to Dubai.
Madagascar is the latest of several former French colonies to come under military control since 2020, following coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Gabon, and Guinea.
This marks the third military transition in Madagascar since independence from France in 1960, following coups in 1972 and 2009.
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