Madagascar’s newly sworn-in President, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, appointed Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo as the country’s civilian prime minister on Monday, following a military takeover that ousted former President Andry Rajoelina. The announcement comes after Randrianirina, who led a mutiny within the CAPSAT army unit, was inaugurated as president on October 17, 2025, in Antananarivo.
Military Takeover and Promises of Reform
The military’s rise to power followed weeks of protests sparked by chronic power outages, which evolved into a broader anti-government movement. On October 11, Randrianirina’s CAPSAT unit denounced the violent response of Rajoelina’s security forces against protesters, joining the demonstrations in the capital. This pivotal moment led to Rajoelina’s impeachment for desertion of duty and his subsequent flight from the country, reportedly to the French island of Reunion and then to Dubai aboard a French military plane.
Randrianirina, rejecting accusations of orchestrating a coup, has pledged to establish a civilian-led government and collaborate with “all the driving forces of the nation.” He emphasized that the appointment of Rajaonarivelo adhered strictly to constitutional protocols, following consultations with the national assembly.
New Prime Minister’s Credentials
Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo, a prominent private sector figure and former chairman of the Malagasy bank BNI, was selected for his expertise and international connections. Randrianirina highlighted Rajaonarivelo’s “skills, experience, and relations with international organizations” as key qualifications for fostering collaboration with global partners to address Madagascar’s challenges.
A Nation in Transition
The military takeover, backed by the constitutional court, has drawn criticism from Rajoelina’s supporters, who label it a power grab. Nonetheless, Randrianirina has vowed to implement sweeping reforms and organize new elections in the impoverished island nation, where public frustration over power shortages fueled the recent unrest.
