Antananarivo, Madagascar
Reuters
—
The military commander who led Madagascar’s uprising said on Tuesday that the military had seized power after President Andriy Rajoelina was impeached by lawmakers and forced to flee the country following weeks of youth-led protests.
Rajoelina had refused to resign despite intensifying Gen Z protests calling for his resignation and widespread defections within the military.
“We have seized power,” Col. Michael Landrianilina declared on state radio, saying the military was dissolving all institutions except the Duma and the National Assembly.
Landria Anilina later told reporters that a military-led committee would rule the country alongside an interim government for up to two years, after which new elections would be held.
“The following institutions will be suspended: the Senate, the High Constitutional Court, the Independent National Electoral Commission, the High Court, and the High Council for the Protection of Human Rights and the Rule of Law,” the country’s military leadership said in a statement.
The missing 51-year-old leader had previously called for the House of Commons to be dissolved by decree as the country descends into turmoil off the coast of southern Africa.
But lawmakers forced a vote to impeach him, plunging the country into a constitutional impasse that the military seized on and declared themselves responsible.
Rajoelina, who himself came to power in a 2009 coup, condemned the military’s seizure of power in a statement.
Landria Anilina, commander of the elite CAPSAT army unit that played a key role in Rajoelina’s 2009 coup, parted ways with Rajoelina last week.
In a defiant address to the nation on Monday night, Rajoelina said she was forced to move to a safer location because her life was in danger. Opposition officials, military officials and diplomats told Reuters he fled the country on a French military plane on Sunday.
His isolation deepened on Tuesday when even members of the ruling coalition, which holds a parliamentary majority, voted in favor of impeaching him on charges of engaging in activities deemed incompatible with the duties of the president.
Rajoelina had repeatedly warned in recent days that a coup attempt was underway in the Indian Ocean island nation.
Demonstrations first erupted in the country on September 25 over water and electricity shortages and quickly escalated into violence, citing widespread grievances including corruption, bad governance and a lack of basic services.
The anger mirrored recent protests against ruling elites in other regions such as Nepal and Morocco.
Early Tuesday, in Antananarivo’s Plaza de Mayo 13, along a boulevard lined with palm trees and French colonial buildings, thousands of protesters danced, marched, sang and waved banners accusing Rajoelina of being a French pawn due to his dual citizenship and support from Madagascar’s former colony.
Many waved Gen Z protest banners modeled on Madagascar’s flag or the skull and crossbones from the Japanese anime One Piece series.
At one point, Randria Anilina took to the stage and asked, “Are you ready for a military takeover?” It drew cheers of approval from the crowd.
Later, when news of the military takeover reached protesters, many cheered.
“I’m so happy that Andriy Rajoelina is finally gone…we’ll start again,” said high school student Fi Nomensanahary, as four of his friends cheered him on.
Others were more cautious. “We need to quickly transfer to a civilian government and hold elections,” said Rezafi Roba, a 68-year-old IT consultant.
CAPSAT said over the weekend that it would refuse to fire on protesters. As he continued to lead the military and appointed a new military commander, Rajoelina on Sunday warned of illegal attempts to seize power.
Since then, the militia gendarmerie and police have also severed ties with Rajoelina.
Madagascar has a population of approximately 30 million people with an average age under 20, three-quarters of whom live in poverty. According to the World Bank, GDP per capita plummeted by 45% from independence in 1960 to 2020.
