The African Union (AU) has officially suspended Madagascar after the country’s military staged a coup that ousted President Andry Rajoelina from power.
Colonel Michael Randrianirina, commander of the elite army unit CAPSAT, has taken control of the government and announced his intention to be sworn in as president soon. Speaking on Wednesday, October 15, Randrianirina stated that the constitutional court had invited him to assume leadership following the president’s removal.
The AU Peace and Security Council swiftly condemned the takeover, declaring it an “unconstitutional change of government” and freezing Madagascar’s membership with immediate effect.
Rajoelina, who reportedly fled the country over the weekend amid intensifying protests and military defections, rejected his impeachment and denounced the military’s seizure of power.
“My so-called removal is null and void,”
— Andry Rajoelina, in a statement issued from abroad.
Youth-Led ‘Gen Z Protests’ Sparked Nationwide Unrest
Weeks of youth-led demonstrations, popularly known as the “Gen Z protests,” had gripped the capital, Antananarivo, as thousands of young citizens took to the streets demanding Rajoelina’s resignation. The protesters accused his administration of corruption, economic hardship, and neglect of the nation’s youth.
The situation escalated after segments of the Madagascar Army joined the demonstrators, refusing to carry out orders to suppress them.
By Tuesday, October 14, the military announced the dissolution of all state institutions except the lower house of parliament — the very body that had voted to impeach Rajoelina.
Randrianirina justified the intervention as necessary “to restore order” and pledged to oversee a transitional government lasting up to two years before fresh elections are held.
“We took responsibility yesterday,” Randrianirina told journalists. “We will be sworn in soon.”
African Union Reaffirms Stand Against Coups
In response to the crisis, the African Union Commission Chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to democratic principles and peaceful conflict resolution.
“The rule of law must prevail over the rule of force,” Youssouf said during a council session in Addis Ababa. “Our approach is grounded in law and dialogue.”
Youssouf added that the AU maintains an “unwavering respect for constitutional order and peaceful resolution of disputes.”
Madagascar’s suspension marks another addition to a growing list of African nations facing military takeovers in recent years, raising regional concerns about the resurgence of coups and the erosion of democratic governance across the continent.
