Madagascar’s political crisis deepened on Friday as Army Colonel Michael Randrianirina was officially sworn in as the country’s new president, following a swift military takeover earlier in the week that forced President Andry Rajoelina to flee the country.
The ceremony, held in the capital Antananarivo, marked the formal transition of power to the military after days of tension and uncertainty. Colonel Randrianirina, who led the coup that ousted Rajoelina, pledged to restore order and ensure stability, promising that his leadership would prioritize national unity and security.Rajoelina’s whereabouts remain unclear since he reportedly fled the country amid the takeover.
International observers and regional bodies have condemned the coup, calling for the restoration of democratic governance and the protection of civil liberties in the island nation.The development marks Madagascar’s latest bout of political instability, adding to a long history of coups and contested power transitions since its independence.