Madagascar’s military has seized control of the government after the national parliament voted to impeach President Andry Rajoelina, following weeks of widespread protests over governance, power shortages, and water crises.
The crisis escalated after 25 September, when citizens took to the streets to demand better access to basic services and express frustration with the ruling elite. What began as a protest over persistent energy and water shortages quickly developed into a broader movement against President Rajoelina and his administration, highlighting deep-seated discontent with political management and economic inequality.
On Monday, 13 October 2025, Rajoelina, 51, refused mounting calls from the protest movement to step down. Overnight, the CATSAT elite military unit, which had joined demonstrators over the weekend, moved to assert control. Colonel Michael Randrianirina, the unit’s commander, announced the suspension of the constitution and formation of a governing committee composed of army, gendarmerie, and national police officers. He indicated that the committee would temporarily carry out the duties of the presidency, with plans to eventually include senior civilian advisers and establish a civilian government.
Following the announcement, military convoys rolled through the capital in armoured Humvees and pick-up trucks, with hundreds of soldiers standing in formation at their base. Crowds lined the streets to cheer, honk horns, and follow the convoy in a show of public support. Many citizens expressed relief and hope that the takeover would end weeks of hardship and political uncertainty.
“This is a huge joy. We have suffered for so long… we hope to now be able to move forward, united,” said businesswoman Baovola Zanarison Rakotomanga, 41, among celebratory crowds at city hall.
The presidency, however, condemned the military’s actions as “a clear act of attempted coup,” insisting that Rajoelina, reportedly out of the country and in hiding, remains fully in office.
Analysts note that the coup reflects a culmination of growing frustration with government inefficiency, corruption, and the inability to deliver essential services, creating a political vacuum that the military moved to fill. Whether the takeover will lead to a stable civilian-led administration remains uncertain, as Madagascar faces both political volatility and pressing socio-economic challenges.
