COLONEL Michael Randrianirina has taken control of Madagascar after its sitting president fled following weeks of youth-led Gen Z protests against his rule.
Following are key facts about Randrianirina:
- Randrianirina is part of Madagascar’s elite military CAPSAT unit, the group that brought now-deposed president Andry Rajoelina to power in a 2009 coup.
- Since taking control this week, he has suspended the southern African country’s institutions, including the Senate, electoral commission and top legal bodies, including the High Constitutional Court that validated his takeover as interim president. He said it might take up to two years to hold elections to transition back to a civilian government.
- Randrianirina became a vocal critic of Rajoelina in recent years and was arrested on suspicion of instigating an army mutiny on 27 November 2023, for which he was charged, brought before court and sent to prison all on the same day.
He was released in February 2024, after being given a suspended sentence for attacking state security, and returned to CAPSAT. - On October 11, as the Gen Z protests against Rajoelina gathered steam, Randrianirina recorded a video in which he called on Madagascar’s security forces to disobey orders to open fire on protesters. Some CAPSAT soldiers then joined the protests after that declaration of support.
- He was born in the village of Sevohipoty, in the region of Androy, on the southernmost tip of the Indian Ocean island. He is 51 years old, although the exact date of his birth is not public knowledge, nor is his family background.
- He was governor of Androy between 2016 and 2018, later becoming head of an infantry battalion in the city of Toliara until 2022. Then he was promoted to a senior role in CAPSAT.
