Madagascar Revokes Ousted President’s Nationality Amid Coup Fallout

Madagascar has officially revoked the nationality of ousted president Andry Rajoelina, a decisive move by the new government just 10 days after his removal in a military coup. The decree, signed by Prime Minister Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo and published in the official gazette on Friday, states that Rajoelina lost his Malagasy nationality upon voluntarily acquiring French citizenship in 2014. This revocation excludes him from participating in future elections, effectively barring a political comeback.

Rajoelina’s removal followed weeks of protests led by the youth, stemming from grievances over poverty, corruption, and frequent power outages. The conflict escalated when a specialized military unit, CAPSAT, refused orders to suppress the protests violently and instead sided against him. Colonel Michael Randrianirina, commander of CAPSAT, declared control of the government and was sworn in as interim president on October 14, pledging elections within two years.

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The scandal over Rajoelina’s dual nationality first surfaced ahead of the November 2023 elections, but he retained power after winning contested polls boycotted by opposition parties. His flight from Madagascar came amid intensifying unrest and his impeachment by the parliament.

This latest development marks a critical turning point in Madagascar’s political landscape as the country seeks stability after decades marked by coups and political upheavals. The revocation of Rajoelina’s nationality underlines the new administration’s determination to consolidate power and prevent his return to office.