Tue Oct 14 12:38:43 UTC 2025: **Madagascar’s President Rajoelina Dissolves Parliament Amid Impeachment Threat, Flees Country**
ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar – In a desperate attempt to cling to power, Madagascar’s embattled President Andry Rajoelina has dissolved the National Assembly via a social media decree, just ahead of a planned impeachment vote. However, the move appears to have backfired, with elements of the military and police siding with widespread protests demanding his resignation, pushing the island nation further into political turmoil.
Rajoelina, whose current location is unknown, announced the dissolution on Tuesday, claiming it was necessary to “restore order” and “strengthen democracy.” However, opposition leader Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko dismissed the decree as legally invalid, citing the lack of consultation with the National Assembly president.
Reports indicate Rajoelina fled the country on Sunday aboard a French army aircraft, a claim French President Emmanuel Macron has declined to confirm. This departure followed a significant shift in the military, with elite units defecting and announcing they would refuse orders to fire on protesters. A privately owned news website, 2424.mg, reported on Tuesday that the police have also joined the military and gendarmerie in backing the demonstrations.
The protests, initially sparked by water and power outages on September 25, have evolved into a broader expression of discontent over the rising cost of living, poverty, and alleged government corruption. Led by Gen Z groups, the movement draws inspiration from recent uprisings in other countries, fueling calls for Rajoelina’s resignation.
The UN reports that at least 22 people have been killed and over 100 injured since the demonstrations began. The protests have laid bare the deep-seated frustrations in one of the world’s poorest nations, where access to electricity is limited and blackouts are common.
Rajoelina, who first came to power in a 2009 coup, secured a second full term in the 2023 election. The Gen Z Madagascar movement, having been inspired by the previous global uprisings, has rejected government offers for dialogue, signaling a continued determination to see Rajoelina step down. The future of Madagascar remains uncertain as the political crisis deepens.
First Piper 