Army Colonel Michael Randrianirina has been sworn in as Madagascar’s new president, days after a military takeover forced former President Andry Rajoelina to flee the country.
The swearing-in ceremony took place on Friday at the Constitutional Court in Antananarivo, the nation’s capital, and was attended by top military officials, politicians, youth leaders, and foreign representatives from the United States, the European Union, Russia, and France.
Randrianirina, who led the elite CAPSAT army unit that joined mass anti-government protests last weekend, described the moment as a “historic turning point” for the island nation.
“Today marks a historic turning point for our country. With people in full fervour, driven by the desire for change and a deep love for their homeland, we joyfully open a new chapter in the life of our nation,” he declared.
He vowed to work with all sectors of society to draft a new constitution and develop fresh electoral laws that would pave the way for credible elections and national reforms.
“We will work hand in hand with all the driving forces of the nation to draft a fine constitution and to agree on new electoral laws for the organisation of elections and referendums,” the new president said.
Randrianirina also acknowledged the youth-led movement that played a crucial role in the protests leading to Rajoelina’s ouster, pledging to “break with the past” and overhaul the country’s governance systems.
“Our main mission is to thoroughly reform the country’s administrative, socio-economic, and political systems of governance,” he added.
The coup and subsequent transition mark another chapter in Madagascar’s history of political upheavals, as observers watch to see how Randrianirina’s administration steers the nation toward stability and democratic renewal.
