Madagascar: Elite unit seizes power after parliament ousts president

An elite unit of Madagascar’s army announced Tuesday it had seized power after the National Assembly removed President Andry Rajoelina from office for evading his duties.

The commander of the “Personnel, Administrative and Technical Services Corps” unit, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, read a statement that the elite unit had seized power.

The decision came after Rajoelina issued two decrees via the Malagasy presidency’s Facebook page, announcing the dissolution of the National Assembly and the appointment of a woman as a special advisor to the president in charge of relations with institutions.

Rajoelina also issued a statement on Facebook, preempting his dismissal by the National Assembly, saying that the meeting held by former parliamentarians “has no legal basis and is in violation of the provisions of the constitution”.

He considered that any deliberations or decisions issued by a meeting held in violation of the provisions of the Constitution shall be considered null and void.

Rajoelina gave a lengthy speech in which he said he was in a safe place after being the victim of an assassination attempt, adding that he had to find a safe place to protect his life.

In the speech, which wasn’t broadcast on state television but was broadcast exclusively on the presidency’s Facebook page, Rajoelina explained that he never stopped searching for solutions and urged respect for the constitution, without announcing his resignation.

Radio France Internationale announced on Monday that the Malagasy president “fled” the country on Sunday aboard a “French military aircraft,” without confirming his final destination.

In this regard, Malagasy Colonel Michael Randrianirina has announced a two-year transitional period under his presidency, followed by new elections in the country, after an elite army unit announced it had seized power, immediately after the National Assembly’s decision to remove President Andry Rajoelina.

Randrianirina, commander of an elite unit in the Malagasy army, explained that within two years at most, a referendum will be held to draft a new constitution, followed by elections to gradually establish the new institutions.

The military leaders announced the suspension of the Senate, the Supreme Constitutional Court, the electoral body, and several other government institutions.

While its work was suspended, the Malagasy Constitutional Court called for elections to be held within 60 days, following the military coup.

The Constitution stipulates that legislative elections must be held “at least 60 days and at most 90 days after the announcement of the dissolution of the National Assembly”.

Madagascar has been witnessing protests by Generation Z youth since September 25.

Initially protesting water and electricity shortages, the protests later escalated into demands for the regime’s removal.

A rebel military unit has joined the protesters and announced control of all military bases in the country.