The wide spread protest embarked by Gen- Z has been identified as responsible for the military takeover in Madagascar a country lying off the southeastern coast of Africa, a development which forced President Andry Rajoelina, who fled the country.
Penpushing reports that the United Nations (UN) records showed that the youth-led demonstrations over crippling water and power shortages had turned violent, leaving at least 22 people dead and more than 100 injured.
The ousted President was reported to have been later impeached following demonstrations against worsening economic conditions and governance failures, and was subsequently replaced by military leader Michael Randrianirina as new president of the country.
Penpushing further reports that Rajoelina’s flight into exile makes him the third Malagasy leader to do so after being ousted, following Didier Ratsiraka in 2002 and Marc Ravalomanana in 2009.
The media report that it that the deposed President was evacuated on Sunday aboard a French military aircraft to the French island of Réunion before travelling to Dubai.
Penpushing also reports that Randrianirina was sworn-in at a ceremony which took place at the Constitutional Court in the capital, Antananarivo, where a large crowd gathered, including protest leaders, military officers, and foreign diplomats.
The new leader in his inaugural speech said the day marked a historic point of the country with pledge to collaborate with civil society and political actors to draft a new constitution and electoral laws to guide fresh elections and referendums.
Penpushing reports that Randrianirina equally praised the youth movement for its role in the uprising that brought down the previous administration, emphasizing that his administration mission is to reform Madagascar’s administrative, socio-economic, and political systems for the benefit of all
“Today marks a historic turning point for our country. With a people united by the desire for change and a deep love for their homeland, we open a new chapter in our nation’s history. We are committed to breaking with the past. Our mission is to reform Madagascar’s administrative, socio-economic, and political systems for the benefit of all’, he added
Penpushing further reports that following the takeover, the military dissolved most state institutions except the National Assembly, and despite mounting criticism from international organisations, including the United Nations (UN), Randrianirina denied staging a coup, citing the Constitutional Court’s endorsement of his presidency as evidence of legitimacy.
The supporters of the deposed president have rejected the court’s ruling as unconstitutional, warning it could deepen the political instability in the former French colony, however, with this development Madagascar now joins a growing list of former French colonies that have experienced military rule since 2020, including Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Gabon, and Guinea.
Penpushing also reports that this is the third military-led transition in Madagascar since independence from France in 1960, following coups in 1972 and 2009, and despite its wealth of natural resources and biodiversity, the country remains one of the poorest in the world, with about 80 per cent of its 32 million citizens living in poverty, according to the World Bank.
Meanwhile, the inauguration, however, defied the African Union (AU), which suspended Madagascar’s membership in response to the military seizure of power.
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