قائد وحدة عسكرية يؤدي اليمين حاكماً لمدغشقر

Colonel Michael Randrianirina took the oath of office as President of Madagascar today (Friday), after the military seized power following protests led by youth that forced President Andry Rajoelina to leave the country. The oath-taking ceremony took place at the Constitutional Court.
The new military governor stated that he is open to conducting talks with the African Union after it suspended his country's membership following the coup.
Rajoelina, who was ousted by lawmakers after fleeing abroad earlier this week, condemned the power grab and refused to step down, despite youth-led protests demanding his resignation and widespread defections within the security forces.
The African Union announced on Wednesday the immediate suspension of Madagascar's membership following the coup and called for the restoration of civilian rule and the holding of elections.

Behind-the-Scenes Negotiations

Randrianirina said at a press conference yesterday (Thursday) that the African Union's decision was expected. He added, "From now on, there will be behind-the-scenes negotiations, and we will see how things develop."
He previously announced that the military had taken power and dissolved all institutions except for the National Assembly. He added that a military-led committee would hold power for up to two years, alongside a transitional government before organizing new elections.
Randrianirina was a leader in the elite military unit "Kapsat," which played a role in the 2009 coup that brought Rajoelina to power, but he defected from him last week and urged soldiers not to fire on the protesters.
Madagascar has a population of about 30 million people, with three-quarters of the population living in poverty.
Between its independence in 1960 and 2020, per capita GDP dropped by 45%, according to the World Bank.