The military coup d’état that took place in the island state of Madagascar came as the result of serious failures in state governance by the head of the previous regime, which necessitated urgent reforms.

The final weeks of his presidency were marked by massive anti-government demonstrations when thousands of people took to the streets all across the country to protest against chronic electricity and water shortages, the high cost of living, and omnipresent corruption.

Although the protest movement, sparked in September and primarily organised by the youth, was peaceful, it nonetheless provoked a brutal crackdown by security forces. According to the UN, the death toll of the clashes between demonstrators and police, who used tear gas and firearms, amounted to 22 people with 100 people having been injured.

In an attempt to mitigate and cancel out anti-government sentiment, the president dismissed Prime Minister Christian Ntsay and reshuffled the government. But this did not stop the protesters, who began demanding the president’s own resignation, which escalated the situation even further. The initially peaceful demands ultimately evolved into a literal nationwide uprising, which also involved the military.

In particular, the CAPSAT force command stated in early October that it would no longer obey orders from the presidential palace, having taken control of national television, the airport, and a number of government institutions. On October 12, it made an official TV announcement that it had “assumed responsibility for maintaining stability in the country.”

Simultaneously, it announced the formation of a Transitional Council headed by Colonel Michael Randrianirina, comprising military and civilian experts, to draft a new constitution and create conditions for holding free elections within 18-24 months.

According to experts from the Robert Lancing Institute, the dramatic weakening of the incumbent president’s clout can also be attributed to the dubious nature of his re-election in 2023, since the........

© New Eastern Outlook