Madagascar’s new military ruler, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, announced on Wednesday that he will soon be sworn in as the country’s president, following a military coup that ousted President Andry Rajoelina over the weekend.
The move comes as the African Union (AU) suspended the island nation, condemning the takeover and calling for a return to constitutional order.
Speaking at a press briefing in Antananarivo, Randrianirina said the military had “taken responsibility” for restoring stability after weeks of nationwide protests and defections within the security forces.
“We will be sworn in soon,” he told reporters, a day after the High Constitutional Court invited him to serve as interim head of state.
The coup leader confirmed that all state institutions had been dissolved except the National Assembly, and that a military-led committee would oversee a transitional government for up to two years before new elections are organized.
The African Union swiftly suspended Madagascar from all its activities, citing a breach of the bloc’s democratic principles. “The rule of law must prevail over the rule of force,” AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said after an emergency meeting in Addis Ababa. “Our approach is grounded in law and dialogue.”
Former President Andry Rajoelina, who was impeached by lawmakers and fled the country on Sunday aboard a French military plane, has rejected the coup, insisting he remains the legitimate leader. He is believed to be in Dubai, according to diplomatic and opposition sources.
Rajoelina, once hailed as a reformist after seizing power in a 2009 coup backed by youth protests, failed to deliver on promises to improve living standards or curb corruption.
Madagascar, home to around 30 million people, three-quarters of whom live in poverty, has struggled with economic stagnation and political instability for decades.
Randrianirina, formerly a commander in the elite CAPSAT army unit that helped bring Rajoelina to power in 2009, turned against his former ally last week after refusing to order troops to fire on demonstrators demanding the president’s resignation.
The gendarmerie and national police have also declared their support for the coup, deepening Rajoelina’s isolation.
As Madagascar enters yet another uncertain political transition, regional leaders and international observers are urging calm and dialogue to prevent further turmoil in the Indian Ocean island nation.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
