Antananarivo: Madagascar has plunged into a deep constitutional and political crisis after President Andry Rajoelina dissolved the National Assembly on Monday, triggering an immediate response from the country’s armed forces, who declared that they were taking control of the government. The move came amid intensifying public protests and defections from the president’s once-loyal security forces, marking the gravest instability in the Indian Ocean Island nation in over a decade.
The crisis unfolded rapidly after Rajoelina issued a decree dissolving the lower house of Parliament, accusing it of plotting an unconstitutional impeachment. His decision, however, only added fuel to the growing unrest that had already engulfed Antananarivo and other major cities. The National Assembly had been preparing to vote on Rajoelina’s impeachment earlier in the day, citing corruption, mismanagement, and the president’s failure to respond to the worsening social and economic conditions.
Shortly after the dissolution order was announced, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, a senior army officer, went on state radio declaring that the military had “taken power in the name of the people.” The colonel stated that all institutions would be dissolved to restore order and national unity, marking a de facto military takeover.
Reports from the capital suggested that President Rajoelina had left Madagascar aboard a French military aircraft, although he later insisted that he remained the legitimate head of state. His office issued a statement denouncing the military’s declaration as a “coup attempt,” claiming that the dissolution of Parliament was constitutional and necessary to “protect the integrity of the state.”
Despite his assertions, the president’s grip on power appeared to weaken rapidly. Key segments of the army, police, and paramilitary forces once instrumental in his own rise to power in 2009 have defected to support the protest movement. Security forces reportedly refused orders to use force against civilians, further isolating Rajoelina’s government.
The political crisis has its roots in weeks of growing frustration over chronic electricity blackouts, water shortages, and mounting inflation. The demonstrations that began over basic service failures evolved into a nationwide protest movement demanding the president’s resignation.
Much of the anger has been driven by the country’s youth population, who make up the majority in a nation where the median age is under 20. Protesters carried placards mocking the president’s ties to France and adopted cultural imagery including the pirate flag from the popular Japanese anime One Piece as a symbol of defiance. Demonstrators accused Rajoelina of governing for the elite while neglecting the country’s poor majority.
The crisis deepened when units from CAPSAT the elite regiment that helped Rajoelina seize power during the 2009 uprising switched sides and joined the protesters. The police and gendarmerie also broke ranks, refusing to disperse the crowds that had filled Antananarivo’s Independence Avenue.
Colonel Randrianirina’s faction, now claiming control, announced that a transitional authority would be formed to “restore democratic order” and pave the way for new elections. However, details of the plan remain unclear, and fears are mounting that the country could spiral into prolonged instability.
International reactions have been swift. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed concern over the unfolding events, urging “respect for constitutional order” while acknowledging the deep social and economic frustrations that have fueled the protests. The African Union and the United Nations also called for restraint and dialogue, warning that the military’s intervention could undermine Madagascar’s fragile democratic institutions.
Madagascar, one of the world’s poorest nations, has faced decades of political turmoil since gaining independence from France in 1960. Nearly three-quarters of its 30 million citizens live below the poverty line, and corruption and weak governance have plagued successive administrations.
As of Tuesday, the situation remains fluid. The capital is tense, with soldiers stationed around government buildings and demonstrators celebrating what they see as the end of an era. Yet, analysts warn that the power vacuum and competing claims of legitimacy between Rajoelina and the military could plunge the country into deeper chaos.
With both political leadership and institutional authority in question, Madagascar stands at a crossroads. Whether this marks the beginning of a new democratic transition or another cycle of instability depends on how quickly civilian order can be restored and whether the military’s promise of reform translates into reality.