Michael Randrianirina speaks after he was sworn in as the president of Madagascar at the nation's High Constitutional Court in Antananarivo, Madagascar, Oct. 17, 2025. Michael Randrianirina, a Malagasy military officer, was sworn in on Friday as the president of Madagascar in the capital here. He took the oath of office at the African island nation's High Constitutional Court. (Photo by Sitraka Rajaonarison/Xinhua)
ANTANANARIVO, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Michael Randrianirina, a Malagasy military officer, was sworn in on Friday as the president of Madagascar in the capital here.
He took the oath of office at the African island nation's High Constitutional Court.
Randrianirina, born in 1974, was governor of Madagascar's southern Androy region between 2016 and 2018.
Protests erupted in Madagascar in late September, initially triggered by widespread power and water shortages. Some demonstrations turned violent and soon escalated into calls for the president's resignation. The protests took a new turn last Saturday, with an army regiment declaring its support for and protection of the protesters.
The army regiment officer Randrianirina announced on Tuesday that state power in Madagascar was taken over by a military council comprising members of the army, gendarmerie and national police, noting that the decision followed "the observation of non-compliance with the Constitution and the flouting of human rights."
On the same day, the National Assembly of Madagascar, the lower house of the parliament, voted to impeach President Andry Rajoelina in an extraordinary session, despite the Presidency's earlier announcement that the assembly was dissolved. ■
Michael Randrianirina (R) signs documents after he was sworn in as the president of Madagascar at the nation's High Constitutional Court in Antananarivo, Madagascar, Oct. 17, 2025. Michael Randrianirina, a Malagasy military officer, was sworn in on Friday as the president of Madagascar in the capital here.
He took the oath of office at the African island nation's High Constitutional Court. (Photo by Sitraka Rajaonarison/Xinhua)
Michael Randrianirina (L, front) attends the sworn-in ceremony at the High Constitutional Court of Madagascar in Antananarivo, Madagascar, Oct. 17, 2025. Michael Randrianirina, a Malagasy military officer, was sworn in on Friday as the president of Madagascar in the capital here.
He took the oath of office at the African island nation's High Constitutional Court. (Photo by Sitraka Rajaonarison/Xinhua)