FazTimes Media: In a big political change, Madagascar has officially named Colonel Michael Randrianirina as its new president, just days after a military-led action removed the former leader, Andry Rajoelina, who left the country in the middle of growing public anger. This event shows another big shift in the history of this African island nation, showing how people are upset about bad government, economic problems, and continuing inequality.

According to Al Jazeera, the swearing-in ceremony happened at the High Constitutional Court in Antananarivo on Friday, officially confirming Colonel Randrianirina’s leadership.

This came after Rajoelina was impeached for “not doing his job” earlier in the week, following his sudden departure from the country during violent protests about water and power shortages.

The court’s decision ended a busy week for Madagascar, as citizens marched in the streets asking for honesty, changes, and an end to what they called “political neglect.”

The protests, mostly led by angry young people, turned into a national movement, which finally led the military to take action.

A Week of Chaos and Change

Mass protests started across Madagascar in recent weeks, resulting in at least 22 deaths and over 100 injuries, reported by BBC News, citing United Nations data.

The unrest began because of long-standing issues like power cuts, water shortages, and higher food prices—problems that got worse under Rajoelina’s leadership. Within days, Rajoelina’s control over the country broke.

On October 11, CAPSAT announced it would no longer follow orders to stop the people, which ended the government’s power. By midweek, Rajoelina had left Madagascar on a French military plane for the island of Reunion, later going to Dubai, as reported by Reuters.

The Swearing-In Ceremony

Some people noticed that he wore a normal suit instead of a military uniform. This choice was meant to show that the new government is focused on civilian leadership and the rule of law.

Randrianirina spoke to local reporters right after he started his job.

He said, “Madagascar has not chosen a military government. The government is for civilians. The presidential group includes both military and civilian people to keep things stable and include everyone.”

According to AFP, a lot of people came to watch the event, including members of a group of young activists who had been protesting. Their presence showed that the new government is trying to show that it listens to the public instead of acting like a traditional military group.

Randrianirina said he plans to organize free and fair elections in 18 to 24 months.

He also mentioned that there are talks about choosing a prime minister who can get agreement from different groups.

Rajoelina’s Fall and Response

Rajoelina’s government had been dealing with a lot of problems for many months. People criticized him for not doing enough to fix the serious economic issues while staying in power. He became famous after a 2009 military takeover and has always been a controversial figure in Malagasy politics.

After he was removed, his supporters called the court’s decision “illegal and against the Constitution.” His party published a statement saying the High Constitutional Court was helping the military and breaking democratic rules.

Even though there were these accusations, many people seemed happy with the change. Jean Rakoto, a resident of Antananarivo, told FazTimes Media, “People are tired of false promises. We don’t care if he is a soldier or a politician—we just want electricity, water, and jobs.”

Madagascar’s History of Coups

This isn’t the first time Madagascar has gone through a political change with military help. Since the country became independent from France in 1960, there have been three major coups—once in 1972, again in 2009, and now in 2025.

Like the leaders before him, Rajoelinacamet came to power through a coup, having removed then-President Marc Ravalomanana. Now, he’s facing the same kind of political moves that helped him rise to power.

BBC News reports that the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) plan to send groups to investigate the situation in Madagascar. They are pushing for the country to return to its original rules and laws.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said, “The transition is now happening,” and he added that “civilian people should be the main ones deciding Madagascar’s future.”

A Fragile Economy and Public Expectations

Even though Madagascar is full of natural resources like minerals, valuable stones, and good farmland, it is still one of the poorest countries on Earth. The World Bank says about 80% of the 32 million people there live in poverty.

The new government has big challenges ahead: getting essential services back up and running, making the economy stable, and regaining trust from other countries.

Randrianirina’s promise to change things has made some people hopeful. But many are still doubtful because of the country’s history of political instability. “We’ve heard this kind of talk before,” said Rasoa Andriamihaja, a local teacher. “If this is really about rebuilding the country, the government needs to show it by taking real actions, not just talking.”

International groups are also paying close attention. Al Jazeera reports that Western countries have not called the transition a “coup,” instead calling it a “military-assisted civilian transition.” This careful way of describing things shows hope that the new government will work toward real elections, not just keep power for the military.

They were upset about high unemployment, widespread corruption, and limited job opportunities, which led them to lead large protests that resulted in the downfall of Rajoelina.

Randrianirina has recognized this change in attitude and has promised to create youth groups and advisory teams within his government.

He said during his swearing-in speech, “The voice of our young people will shape Madagascar’s future.”

Political experts think this move is important for the government to stay in power. Dr. Hery Mananjara, a political researcher, told FazTimes Media, “If the new government really involves young people in making important decisions, it could be the start of a more involved and open political culture in Madagascar.”

Looking Ahead

So far, Colonel Randrianirina’s government seems to have some support from both inside the country and abroad. But the road ahead is still uncertain.

The African Union has warned that staying in control with the military for too long might lead to penalties or being cut off from other countries.

However, for many Malagasy people, their main worries are still about everyday life. Fixing the electricity, water supply, and food shortages is what they care about most right now.

BBC News reported that President Randrianirina asked citizens to “come together beyond political differences to build a fairer and stronger Madagascar.”

It remains unclear whether this new leadership will bring about genuine change or merely be another step in Madagascar’s ongoing struggle for stability.

For now, the people of Madagascar are waiting—hoping cautiously that this time, change might actually bring progress.

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