Madagascar Turmoil: Military Takeover and Evacuation of President Rajoelina
#politics #madagascar #military #protests #crisis
Madagascar faces political upheaval as CAPSAT seizes control, sparking protests and the evacuation of President Rajoelina.
Richard Ravalomanana News and Analysis
About Richard Ravalomanana
Richard Ravalomanana, born on December 14, 1959, is a prominent Malagasy politician and former military officer. He is currently serving as the President of the Senate of Madagascar, a position he assumed on October 13, 2023, becoming the first military officer to hold this office. His election was unanimous, receiving 15 votes in favor with 3 abstentions[1][3]. Ravalomanana has a distinguished military background, having graduated from the Malagasy military academy and pursued further military education in France at the Interarmy Defense College in Paris and the Gendarmerie School in Melun. He served as Commander of the National Gendarmerie and was Secretary of State for the Gendarmerie from 2019 to 2021. From 2022 to 2023, he acted as Special Security Advisor to President Andry Rajoelina[1][3]. In October 2023, following the removal of his predecessor Herimanana Razafimahefa, the Constitutional Court of Madagascar invoked a constitutional provision that granted the President of the Senate the role of interim President of Madagascar during a presidential vacancy or election period. Consequently, Ravalomanana served as the country’s acting President from October 27, 2023, until December 16, 2023, when he formally handed over power to the re-elected President Andry Rajoelina[1][3]. Ravalomanana is known for his crisis management skills, honed during his military career and further developed through an international crisis management course in Washington in 2000. These skills have contributed to his reputation as a stabilizing figure in Madagascar’s often turbulent political environment[4]. He has also engaged in international parliamentary diplomacy, notably strengthening Madagascar’s relations with Russia during a 2025 official visit, emphasizing mutual cooperation and historical ties between the two countries[6]. His political role is marked by loyalty to President Rajoelina and influence within the Malagasy political and security apparatus[7].
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