The African Union (AU) has formally announced the suspension of Madagascar following the military coup that successfully ousted President Andry Rajoelina.
The swift condemnation comes as the coup leader, military chief Colonel Michael Randrianirina, is reportedly set to be sworn in as the country’s transitional president on Friday.
The takeover caps weeks of intensifying protests led by youth groups dubbed “Gen Z Madagascar,” supported by labour unions and civic groups who demanded better governance and greater job opportunities. Protesters highlighted issues like chronic water and electricity shortages, corruption, and widespread poverty, which affects nearly three-quarters of the population.
Rajoelina Condemns Coup Amid Defections
Rajoelina, who was impeached by lawmakers after fleeing the country over the weekend, has publicly condemned the military takeover and refused to step down. However, the momentum shifted decisively on Tuesday when Colonel Randrianirina, a long-time critic who was previously imprisoned in 2023 over an alleged coup plot, led a rebellion siding with the protesters to remove the President.
Despite Rajoelina’s resistance, the military intervention was welcomed by demonstrators, who cheered Randrianirina and soldiers from his elite CAPSAT unit as they rode through the capital, Antananarivo. The Colonel has pledged to hold elections within two years.
The protests reached a critical turning point on Saturday when Randrianirina and his unit openly joined the call for Rajoelina’s resignation, leading the President to flee to an undisclosed location, citing fears for his safety.
International Response and SADC Intervention
The coup has drawn swift international condemnation:
- The AU announced Madagascar’s immediate suspension from the bloc.
- The United Nations expressed its “deep concern by the unconstitutional change of power.”
In a bid to restore order and facilitate dialogue, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has resolved to send a fact-finding mission this week.
Arthur Peter Mutharika, SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation chairperson, confirmed that former Malawi President Joyce Banda will lead the mission to Madagascar. Banda will be accompanied by members of the Mediation Reference Group, Helen Lwegasila Brahim and Joey Bimha, tasked with creating a conducive environment for stability and dialogue.
Madagascar, a nation of approximately 30 million people off Africa’s east coast, has a volatile post-independence history marked by repeated coups and political crises, with Rajoelina himself having ascended to power in a similar military-backed event in 2009.
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