Michael Randrianirina Dissolves Government in Madagascar Five Months After Taking Power

Madagascar’s interim leader, Michael Randrianirina, has dissolved the Cabinet and sacked Prime Minister Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo five months after taking power following protests that forced former president Andry Rajoelina to flee. He said a new prime minister will be appointed soon and promised a two-year transition with reforms and elections planned for 2027.

Madagascar’s military leader and interim president, Michael Randrianirina, has dismissed his prime minister and dissolved the entire Cabinet just five months after taking power following youth-led protests in the capital, Antananarivo. The demonstrations had targeted the former government and eventually led to a change in leadership.
After assuming power, Colonel Randrianirina appointed businessman Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo from the private sector as prime minister. This appointment came shortly after former president Andry Rajoelina fled the country in October following widespread protests.
In a statement released late Monday, a spokesperson for the presidency said that Randrianirina had decided to suspend the government from carrying out its duties. According to the statement, the decision was taken in line with constitutional provisions. The spokesperson also noted that a new prime minister would be appointed soon, although no specific timeline or reason for the dismissal of the government was provided.
The Cabinet that has now been dismissed consisted of a combination of civilian ministers, members of the military, and several critics of former president Rajoelina. This government had only recently been sworn in, having taken office on October 28.
Colonel Randrianirina rose to power after demonstrations erupted in September. The protests initially began over persistent shortages of water and electricity but quickly expanded into wider anti-government demonstrations. The administration of Rajoelina attempted to suppress the protests with force, but those efforts ultimately failed as the demonstrations grew larger and more intense.
Randrianirina has rejected descriptions of the power takeover as a coup. Instead, he refers to himself as the President of the Refoundation of the Republic. He has argued that the country’s Constitutional Court legally transferred authority to him, and he has pledged that the country will go through a transitional period lasting up to two years.
When announcing the formation of his government earlier, Randrianirina said that the main objective of his administration during the transition period was to find practical solutions to address the challenges facing ordinary citizens.
In February, he introduced a political program that includes consultations on constitutional reforms scheduled to continue through 2026. Under the proposed timeline, a presidential election would then be held during the final quarter of 2027.
During the same month, Randrianirina also attempted to strengthen Madagascar’s international relations. He traveled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia and also engaged with French President Emmanuel Macron, representing the country that once colonized Madagascar.
While in Moscow, he spoke of a “new era of cooperation” between Madagascar and Russia. In discussions with France, he described the relationship as a renewed but more balanced partnership. Opposition to France had been one of the central themes of the protests that challenged the previous government.
The announcement dissolving the government came just hours before the Peace and Security Council of the African Union was scheduled to hold its fourth meeting regarding the situation in Madagascar since the unrest that began in October.
Madagascar has experienced several political upheavals since gaining independence from France in 1960. The country has previously witnessed three coups d’état, which occurred in 1972, 1975, and 2009.