ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — Colonel Michael Randrianirina, the leader of a recent military rebellion, declared on Tuesday that he is assuming the role of president after forces under his command ousted President Andry Rajoelina.
The Colonel told The Associated Press he expects to be sworn into office soon, following an invitation from the country’s High Constitutional Court. This move comes after his elite Capsat unit joined youth-led protests that had been building for weeks, a decisive escalation that prompted President Rajoelina to flee the capital.
The uprising culminated on Saturday when Colonel Randrianirina’s forces sided with the demonstrators, effectively sealing the fate of Rajoelina’s government. Rajoelina, who has been in power since 2018, has denounced the military’s takeover as an illegal coup from his undisclosed location.
The political crisis highlights the ongoing instability in the island nation, where public discontent and military influence have once again reshaped the leadership. The international community is watching closely as Madagascar awaits the formal swearing-in of its new self-proclaimed leader.
