New Leader Denies Coup And Insists Madagascar Unconstitutional Power Change Was People’s Will

By Aaron Miller-

Madagascar’s new president, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, has formally denied that his ascension to power, which followed a widespread Gen Z-led uprising, constitutes a military coup.

Colonel Randrianirina assumed office last month after his elite military unit joined protesters in the streets, pushing the former leader, Andry Rajoelina, not only out of the presidential palace but out of the island nation altogether. In an exclusive interview, the new president insisted the military intervened solely to support the struggling Malagasy people and prevent a devastating civil war. This assertion directly contradicts the assessment of international bodies that view the event as an Madagascar Unconstitutional Power Change.

Seated in his military fatigues in an ornate mahogany chair, the Commander of the Corps d’Administration des Personnels et des Services de l’Armée de Terre (CAPSAT) unit appeared humbled as he addressed the monumental transition. “I am happy and it is also a great honour to have come to this palace to be able to help and support the Malagasy people in deep poverty,” he commented.

The uprising was sparked by the poverty, power cuts, and water shortages that protesters denounced as clear signs of deep government corruption. At least 22 demonstrators lost their lives and over 100 people were injured while denouncing the Rajoelina regime’s failures. Colonel Randrianirina explained his pivotal decision to intervene, saying he is part of the people and will return to the people, adding: “That was not why I entered the military of Madagascar, to kill people.”

The military intervention that led to the Madagascar Unconstitutional Power Change was directly sparked by a powerful Gen Z movement rejecting the Rajoelina government. Colonel Randrianirina initiated the military’s support on October 11th when he shared a video on social media instructing officers to immediately disobey any shoot-to-kill orders and instead support the popular movement.

Soon after his public speech, soldiers allowed the young protesters to occupy the significant Place du 13 Mai Square on Independence Avenue in the capital, Antananarivo. The leader later paraded through the crowd, addressing the people from the hatch of an armoured vehicle, warning that the president of the nation had to leave.

Former President Rajoelina subsequently fled Madagascar on October 13th. The National Assembly, capitalizing on the power vacuum, then voted to impeach him for “desertion of duty.” Just three days later, Colonel Randrianirina stood in fatigues in front of the palace with officers by his side and formally announced their seizure of power. The military proceeded to dissolve the constitution and all government institutions outside of the National Assembly.

Despite the sequence of events, President Randrianirina insisted: “We were not conducting any coup at all, it was the president [Rajoelina] himself who decided to leave the country.” Regardless of the new leader’s explanation, the African Union promptly suspended Madagascar’s membership on account of the clear military takeover. This swift international condemnation emphasizes the reality of the Madagascar Unconstitutional Power Change, even as France’s President Emmanuel Macron offered congratulations to the new leader.

The international community remains highly skeptical of the regime change, with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemning the “unconstitutional change of government in Madagascar” and calling for “the return to constitutional order and the rule of law.” Critics’ concerns grow, fearing the new president could become another strongman, a historical pattern previously seen in the island nation. Ousted President Rajoelina, for instance, first ascended to power following protests in 2009 that also involved a CAPSAT-supported coup.

Colonel Randrianirina is currently promising to hold elections within 18 to 24 months, following what he refers to as a period of “refoundation and recovery.” He candidly admits this process, aimed at rebuilding state institutions and trust, might take a long time to complete. Gen Z organizers, however, are holding onto the faith that their hard-earned outcome will prove to be worth the wait. University student Ratsirarisoa Nomena told us, “The new president is not a dictator… he is listening to the people and he is validated by the people.” She affirmed the military’s motivation stemmed from the populace, adding: “We were living under dictatorship.” Ms. Nomena stated that Malagasy citizens who fought for freedom faced injury and death, concluding: “This is what we went through—to me, we are halfway to victory.”

President Randrianirina acknowledged the role of the entire Malagasy population, stating that the Malagasy people, including Gen Z, government officials, and trade unions, “really wanted change.” This massive Gen Z movement in Madagascar, alongside similar youth-led protests against corruption and disputed elections in countries like Tanzania, Kenya, and Nigeria in 2025 alone, serves as a powerful warning to old leaders across the continent. The new president recognizes the popular support is conditional, stating: “If tomorrow the people of Madagascar hate me, then I will leave this palace.”