Madagascar’s newly installed president, Army Colonel Michael Randrianirina, named a civilian prime minister on Monday, signaling a shift toward civilian governance following last week’s military takeover that ousted former President Andry Rajoelina.
Randrianirina, who was sworn in Friday after announcing the military’s assumption of power, appointed Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo as prime minister following consultations with the national assembly. Rajaonarivelo, a prominent figure in the private sector and former chairman of the Malagasy bank BNI, was selected for his experience and international connections.
“He has the skills, the experience, but also relations with international organisations in other countries that will collaborate with Madagascar,” Randrianirina said.
The appointment comes amid promises of sweeping reforms and new elections in the island nation, where widespread protests over chronic power outages last month escalated into a mass anti-government movement. Randrianirina has pledged to work with “all the driving forces of the nation” and rejected accusations that the military takeover constituted a coup.
He emphasized that the selection of the new prime minister “scrupulously followed the Constitution.”
Randrianirina led the CAPSAT army unit that mutinied on October 11, condemning the use of force against demonstrators by Rajoelina’s security forces and joining the protests in the capital. The mutiny proved decisive, prompting Rajoelina to flee the country.
Media reports indicate that the former president was evacuated on Sunday aboard a French military aircraft to the island of Réunion, before traveling onward to Dubai. His supporters have denounced the takeover, though the move was endorsed by Madagascar’s constitutional court.
The political upheaval marks a critical juncture for Madagascar, which has faced persistent economic challenges and governance instability. The new administration’s next steps will be closely watched both domestically and by international partners.
