Madagascar: Junta, quit now

Another bad example for African democracy was displayed in Madagascar when Col Michael Randrianirina, Commander of the elite CAPSAT (French for Personnel Administration, Technical and Administrative Corps) of the country’s military exploited and hijacked the uprising by the Gen Z Mada movement, led by students and young activists, and seized power. The country thus joined […]

Another bad example for African democracy was displayed in Madagascar when Col Michael Randrianirina, Commander of the elite CAPSAT (French for Personnel Administration, Technical and Administrative Corps) of the country’s military exploited and hijacked the uprising by the Gen Z Mada movement, led by students and young activists, and seized power. The country thus joined the unenviable list of Gabon, Niger, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Chad and Mali where democracy has failed in the last few years.

The protests began on September 25, 2025, with rallies in six major cities over frequent blackouts and water cuts. Joined by other civic groups and labour unions, their numbers swelled into mass marches in the capital Antananarivo’s May 13 Square (a historic protest site). Their demands quickly expanded to resignation of President Andry Rajoelina, blaming him for unending corruption, unemployment, inequality and lack of opportunities.

Meanwhile, some of the protesters resorted to rioting, looting, vandalism, and destruction of property. In the end, UN reported about 22 deaths with over 100 injured, mostly from gendarmerie (defense ministry-controlled police) firing on protesters.

On September 26, Rajoelina dismissed his energy minister and dissolved the cabinet on September 29, appointing military General Ruphin Zafisambo as prime minister on October 6. On October 11, the elite CAPSAT unit defected as its soldiers drove armoured vehicles into protest squares, betraying the President by refusing to shoot the protesters even as they exchanged gunfire with gendarmerie security forces still loyal to Rajoelina.

This sparked jubilation and accelerated the collapse of the nation’s democracy. On October 12, CAPSAT took control of the country’s security forces and Rajoelina flee the country via French military plane, alleging “power grab.”

On Oct 14, parliament impeached Rajoelina and the new strongman Randrianirina announced a coup, dissolving the Senate, High Constitutional Court, and suspending the constitution.

We at Daily Trust condemn the Malagasy coup as we believe the lightning-fast power grab isn’t what the people bargained for. What the population of about 30 million needs, and urgently too, is the outpouring of democratic dividends. After all, as World Bank data shows, Madagascar has long grappled with extreme poverty (75% below the poverty line), corruption (ranked 140/180 on Transparency International’s 2024 index), and chronic infrastructure and utility failures. Obviously, Madagascar is at a precarious crossroads and the international community should help steer the country back to developmental and democratic principles.

It is understandable that South African Development Community (SADC) has refused to recognise the new government, suspending the country’s membership, just as it expressed alarm at the takeover of power which “threatens the peace, stability and democratic order” of Madagascar. Also, the African Union (AU), through its Peace and Security Council, held an emergency meeting, saying it “totally rejects” any attempt at unconstitutional change of government.

But we implore both groups, in concert with global players, to pursue multilateral efforts towards a quick roadmap to restore constitutional rule that would give Malagasy people their greatest opportunity for economic and political success since independence from France in 1960. There should be sustained facilitation, mediation and stabilisation efforts in the country.

Alongside this, there should be conscientious reform of the Malagasy armed forces. Ironically, CAPSAT, which took power, was the same force that installed the deposed President Rajoelina in 2009. And the new leader of the junta, Col. Randrianirina, 51, was detained in 2023-2024 for alleged coup plotting.

Beyond the Madagascar conundrum, the “epidemic” of coups must stop in Africa. The continent has been plagued by unconstitutional change of government. Of 492 attempted or successful coups carried out around the world since 1950, Africa has seen 220, the most of any region, with 109 of them successful. Between 2000 and 2025, there has been over 15 coup d’états in the continent, mostly in Francophone West and Central Africa. This shameful record is nothing to gloat about.

We, therefore, call on African leaders to break the cycle of governance deficit and economic deprivation which breeds discontent among citizens by serving the people with honour, sacrifice and integrity. Democratically-elected leaders should lead by example and shun self-preservation and the deliberate refusal to adhere to required obligations of the Constitution. The rule of strong men that has constrained the building of strong democratic institutions should stop as no nation should be run as family property or in rotation.

There should also be deliberate efforts to reduce corruption and mis-management considerably while governments should avoid grandiose projects and concentrate on effective provision of essential services to the people.

All hands should be on deck by regional and international communities to get a guaranteed quick transition timetable that would not reward the current junta. There is no luxury of time. The future of Madagascar rests on the social contract of accountability as democratic governance, not military dictatorship, no matter how benevolent it may be.

Moreover, the military is no saviour of democracy and would never be an option or solution to anything democratic. Therefore, the Madagascar junta should quickly conduct elections and hand over to a democratically elected government.