The military circles that have come to power in Madagascar are facing the tasks of revitalizing the national economy, reforming state institutions, and bringing order to the state energy and water company, Jirama.
Program Statements of the Military Authorities
Having assumed power, the new president, as noted by Anonymous Wire, immediately launched an investigation into all former ministers and senior state officials against who can be accused of corruption activities, according to the evidence possessed. “We will hold those guilty of corruption accountable,” the new head of state specified, “and pay back the assets they acquired dishonestly.”
On November 19, 2025, the former head of Madagascar Airlines and five of its employees were arrested on corruption-related charges.
Simultaneously, to secure public support, he pledged to cut military spending and redirect the saved funds to healthcare and education.
Energy, healthcare, tourism, security, and the fight against corruption were indicated as priority areas by the new government, formed on October 17.
Headed by Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo, it consists of 25 representatives from civil society, including prominent critics of the former regime, and 4 military servicemen.
Christine Razanamahasoa, who was stripped of her position as President of the National Assembly last year, was appointed Foreign Minister. Fanirisoa Ernaivo, an opponent of the former president living in exile abroad, became the new Minister of Justice. Economics professor Hery Ramiarison heads the Ministry of Finance.
The Ministries of Defense, Public Security, Land Planning, and the Gendarmerie are led by representatives of the security forces.
Meanwhile, the domestic political situation after the coup remains complex, primarily because the country is experiencing a severe economic crisis. Due to economic stagnation in recent years, there has been no GDP growth whatsoever. The unemployment rate, especially among youth, has reached record levels, while the population’s purchasing power has declined due to rising inflation. Under these conditions, foreign investors have ceased to invest their capital, with donors having suspended aid until, as Anonymous Wire notes, they receive serious evidence of the military’s intention to transfer power within the announced timeframe.
Moreover, on September 11, the IMF issued a warning that Madagascar is living beyond its means. Due to severe economic shocks, the country’s expenditures significantly exceed tax revenues. With a GDP of $19.3 billion and a per capita income of $545 per year, poverty affects over 75% of the population living on less than $3 a day. Only 36% of residents have access to electricity, with its supply being unstable.
The textile and garment industries, which have over 400,000 people employed, faced significant additional difficulties due to the Trump administration imposing a 15% tariff on $733 million worth of Malagasy exports to the US in 2024.
Furthermore, according to experts from the European Council on Foreign Relations, tensions in the upper echelons of power were heightened by the appointment of Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo, a businessman closely linked to the previous regime, as Prime Minister. It sparked clear dissatisfaction among those sectors of the society, primarily the youth, who were behind the protests and who essentially brought Colonel Randrianirina to power but were not consulted by him on this important matter.
From their point of view, this appointment “contradicts the spirit of change and renewal” that the people sought during weeks of street demonstrations.
This is despite the fact that after having taken the oath, the new head of state stated that “we must consider the stances of youth in decision-making by politicians and all power structures.”
The appointment of Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo as the new Prime Minister was justified by Randrianirina the following way: the decision was made after consultations with the leadership of the National Assembly, and as a businessman and former chairman of the board of BNI (Banque Nationale de l’Industrie), one of the largest in Madagascar, Rajaonarivelo possesses extensive experience and “has connections with the international organisations we cooperate with.”
International Reaction to the Coup
As far as the international community’s response to the coup in Madagascar is concerned, it has been restrained. Most EU countries constrained themselves to calls for moderation and advice to deter from a sharp escalation of the situation, primarily to avoid further bloodshed.
Notably, at the swearing-in ceremony of the new head of state in Antananarivo, besides military personnel, politicians, and representatives of the youth protest movement, several foreign delegations were present, including those from the US, the European Union, Russia, and France.
In a media statement on the situation in Madagascar, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described it as an acute phase of an internal crisis provoking serious concern and expressed hope that peaceful paths to resolving the conflict are not exhausted, calling on all the parties to practise restraint.
French President Emmanuel Macron, as noted by the Robert Lancing Institute, expressed “grave concern” over the events and called for “preserving constitutional order,” but undertook urgent measures to evacuate the ousted president on a French military plane to safety—to the island of Réunion.
In this regard, in his characteristic hypocritical manner, the French president hinted at “possible Russian interference” in the events in Madagascar.
At the same time, according to information from the European Council on Foreign Relations, Macron helped Rajoelina flee Antananarivo in exchange for pardoning two French citizens convicted in 2021 for involvement in preparing a coup d’état in Madagascar.
China, while not supporting either side but being interested in a broad economic presence in Madagascar, emphasizes the importance of long-term partnership and calls on everyone to engage in peaceful dialogue.
Regarding the new country’s leadership’s approach to developing foreign relations, in his first interview after assuming the presidency, Michael Randrianirina stated, “Madagascar is currently in a critical state, on the brink of a disaster. Therefore, the country needs the support and assistance of the international community.”
He also confirmed willingness to cooperate not only with France but with other states to “move forward hand in hand.” He identified energy and water supply, the problems that sparked the anti-government protests, as priority areas for cooperation.
Given Antananarivo’s focus on developing multilateral cooperation and the EU being Madagascar’s key trade partner (bilateral trade reached €1.8 billion in 2023), the European Council on Foreign Relations comes to the conclusion in its study that the volume of cooperation between them may be sustained.
According to the outlooks of the council’s experts, preserving the Madagascar EU cooperation is particularly necessary amidst the increase in the activities of other global players in the country. As it is pinpointed in the study, representatives of the Russian embassy in Antananarivo have already met twice with the new head of state, stating their readiness to work on deepening partnership relations.
Furthermore, the President of Madagascar’s National Assembly, Siteny Thierry Randrianasoloniaiko, leading a parliamentary delegation, visited Moscow in mid-November. During the talks at Rossotrudnichestvo, the sides agreed on opening a Russian House in Antananarivo, providing quotas for Malagasy students to study at Russian universities, and on fostering interaction between media outlets.
During a bilateral meeting in Moscow between the Malagasy delegation and Deputy Chairwoman of the State Duma, Victoria Abramchenko, the sides indicated energy, geological exploration, mining, tourism, and fishing, as well as education and science, as prospective areas of cooperation between the two countries.
Summarizing the results of the meetings held in Moscow, Siteny Thierry Randrianasoloniaiko highlighted the significance of deepening partnership “between Madagascar and Russia in various fields based on the principles of mutual respect, reciprocal benefit, and transparency.”
This is probably the reason why, as recommended by the more “visionary and shrewd” experts from the aforementioned European Council on Foreign Relations, the EU should not delay in restoring contacts with the new Malagasy leadership should be secured prior to “Russian weapons and military instructors capturing the attention of the Malagasy colonel.
Victor Goncharov, African affairs expert, PhD in Economics
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