Madagascar military leader Colonel Michael Randrianarivelo, who declared control of the state. AP Yonhap News. 

The head of the Madagascar military, who declared control of the government immediately after the president was impeached following "Generation Z protests," announced on the 15th (local time) that he "will soon be inaugurated as president."

Colonel Michael Randrianarivelo, commander of the elite army unit CAPSAT, who refused orders to suppress the protests and instead joined the demonstrators, stated at a press conference that "we have been in charge of state affairs since yesterday," as reported by Reuters.

A military source who requested anonymity stated that Colonel Randrianarivelo would be inaugurated as president within two days.

Colonel Randrianarivelo declared that he had seized power in front of the presidential palace shortly after parliament voted to impeach President Andry Rajoelina, who fled abroad last weekend.

Outlining the military's plan for interim governance, he explained, "A coalition of parliament, the government, and the judiciary will run the country during a transition period of up to two years."

The Constitutional Court issued a separate statement urging Colonel Randrianarivelo to exercise the powers of head of state in the absence of an effective government. Following the successful impeachment of the president driven by intense anti-government protests that began on the 25th of last month, Madagascar's youth and citizens took to the streets yesterday to celebrate their political victory.

Although President Rajoelina claimed the impeachment process was illegal and asserted he would remain in office, he has effectively been ousted.

Reuters reported that Rajoelina, who reportedly escaped Madagascar on a French military plane on the 12th, is currently believed to be in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Madagascar, known for its ecological diversity and as the world's largest producer of vanilla, has faced continued political instability since gaining independence from France in 1960. According to the World Bank, it remains one of the poorest countries in the world, with approximately 75% of the population living below the poverty line as of 2022.

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