Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina Flees Amid Military Rebellion
ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar – President Andry rajoelina has left Madagascar following a military rebellion, according to reports confirmed Sunday. The unfolding crisis raises concerns about political stability in the Indian Ocean island nation, which has a long history of coups and political unrest.
The departure of Rajoelina, who was reelected in 2023 in a vote largely boycotted by opposition parties, comes after days of escalating tensions and a reported attempt by the military to oust him. The situation underscores Madagascar’s fragile democratic institutions and the persistent challenges to establishing lasting political order. This latest upheaval could further destabilize the country, impacting its economic growth and regional relationships.
rajoelina first rose to power in 2009, leading a transitional government after a coup that forced then-President Marc Ravalomanana into exile. He was afterward elected president in 2018. The current rebellion’s emergence echoes Madagascar’s turbulent political past, marked by frequent changes in leadership and periods of instability as gaining independence from France in 1960.
Adding to the complexity, Madagascar’s former prime minister, christian Ntsay, and a close advisor to Rajoelina have also reportedly fled the country, arriving in Mauritius early Sunday.Mauritian authorities have stated their dissatisfaction with the unscheduled landing of the private aircraft carrying the officials.
The unrest appears to have been fueled,in part,by the mobilization of Gen Z protesters who have drawn inspiration from recent accomplished uprisings in Nepal and Sri Lanka,utilizing the internet to organize and voice their discontent. The long-term implications of this rebellion and Rajoelina’s departure remain uncertain, but the situation demands close monitoring as madagascar navigates another period of political uncertainty.
