Why in news?
On 14 October 2025, an elite unit of the Madagascan army called CAPSAT announced on national radio that it had taken control of the country after the National Assembly impeached President Andry Rajoelina. The president, facing weeks of youth‑led demonstrations over water shortages, power cuts and corruption, fled abroad. The military suspended key state institutions and said it would oversee a transition lasting up to two years.
Background
Madagascar is the world’s fourth‑largest island, located off Africa’s southeastern coast. A former French colony, it gained independence in 1960. Political instability has marred its post‑independence history, with coups in 1972, 2009 and now 2025. President Andry Rajoelina, a former disc jockey and mayor of Antananarivo, first seized power in a 2009 military‑backed uprising. He later won presidential elections in 2019 and 2023, though opponents accused him of vote rigging.
Protests began on 25 September 2025 over chronic water and electricity shortages, rising living costs and alleged corruption. The largely leaderless movement, nicknamed Gen Z Madagascar, drew thousands of young people to Antananarivo’s streets. Security forces initially fired on demonstrators, leading to several deaths. By mid‑October, sections of the army and paramilitary gendarmerie refused to suppress the protests. On 13 October, Rajoelina attempted to dissolve the National Assembly. Lawmakers proceeded with impeachment the next day, prompting Colonel Michael Randrianirina of CAPSAT to declare that the military was taking over to restore order.
Timeline of events
- 25 September 2025: Protests erupt over water and power shortages and quickly expand to demands for Rajoelina’s resignation.
- Early October: Security forces clash with demonstrators; some units refuse to fire on civilians; deaths prompt public outrage.
- 13 October: President Rajoelina announces the dissolution of the National Assembly in an apparent bid to pre‑empt impeachment.
- 14 October: The National Assembly votes to impeach the president. CAPSAT declares it has taken power and suspends the Senate, the constitutional court and the electoral commission. Rajoelina flees the country, reportedly on a French military plane.
- Aftermath: The military states that a council of officers will govern alongside a transitional civilian government for up to two years before elections. Protests continue, with some citizens celebrating the president’s removal and others wary of military rule.
Madagascar at a glance
- Geography: An island of about 587,000 sq km, Madagascar is separated from mainland Africa by the Mozambique Channel. It has three main regions: the central highlands, the eastern escarpment with rainforests and the western plains with deciduous forests.
- Capital: Antananarivo is the political and economic centre. Major rivers include the Betsiboka and Tsiribihina. The highest point is Maromokotro (2,876 m).
- Population and language: Around 30 million people live in Madagascar, three‑quarters of whom live below the poverty line. Malagasy and French are official languages.
- Government: Madagascar is formally a semi‑presidential republic with a president and prime minister, but repeated coups have weakened democratic institutions.
- Economy: Largely agricultural, producing vanilla, coffee, cloves and rice. The island also has mineral resources such as graphite and nickel, yet inequality remains high.
- Biodiversity: Over 90 % of its plant and animal species—including lemurs, fossas and chameleons—are found nowhere else on Earth. Deforestation and illegal wildlife trade threaten this unique heritage.
Conclusion
The political upheaval in Madagascar underscores deep frustrations over basic services and governance. While some citizens view the military’s intervention as a chance for renewal, others fear a return to authoritarianism. The transition period will test the country’s ability to restore democracy, address economic hardships and protect its extraordinary natural wealth.
Source: Reuters · The Guardian