Madagascar’s Andry Rajoelina, once celebrated as the youthful face of change and reform, has now been forced from power by the same force that once elevated him — the anger and activism of Madagascar’s youth.
The 51-year-old president, who rose to prominence as a charismatic mayor and radio personality in the late 2000s, was ousted in a military coup after weeks of Gen Z–led protests over poverty, corruption, and failing infrastructure. His political career, which began with street movements and ended the same way, has come full circle.
From Radio DJ to Revolutionary Leader
Rajoelina’s journey into politics began far from the presidential palace. The son of an army colonel, he initially pursued a career in media and entertainment, buying local television and radio stations in 2007.
Using his platform and magnetic personality, Rajoelina built a loyal following among Madagascar’s youth, who admired his anti-establishment tone and promises of transparency and modern governance.
He founded a political party called “Determined Malagasy Youth” (Tanora malaGasy Vonona), which championed causes like public accountability, infrastructure reform, and economic revival. His message struck a chord in a country where three-quarters of the 30 million citizens live in poverty.
By the end of 2007, he had been elected mayor of Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital, becoming a powerful symbol of generational change.
2009: The Uprising That Made Him President
In early 2009, rising public frustration with then-President Marc Ravalomanana’s government — fueled by corruption, inequality, and authoritarianism — sparked a massive wave of youth-led protests.
The demonstrations, organized and amplified by Rajoelina and his movement, soon escalated into violent clashes. Government buildings were burned, and the political crisis deepened.
When the military intervened, it was the elite CAPSAT unit — the same one that would later turn against Rajoelina — that tipped the balance of power. Backed by the armed forces, the young mayor forced Ravalomanana into exile and assumed the role of transitional president at just 34 years old.
At the time, he was hailed as the face of a new Madagascar — energetic, ambitious, and connected to the youth. But his early rule was marred by international isolation, sanctions, and accusations of authoritarianism.
Return to Power and a Divisive Presidency
Rajoelina stepped down in 2014 after years of transitional rule but returned triumphantly to the political stage, winning the 2018 election. His comeback was seen as a testament to his enduring popularity and strategic skill.
However, his second presidency soon became defined by economic stagnation, political infighting, and a growing perception that he had failed to deliver on his reformist promises.
Rajoelina’s administration faced criticism for nepotism, opaque spending, and lavish projects that seemed disconnected from the needs of ordinary Malagasy citizens.
Despite efforts to attract foreign investment and promote tourism, poverty persisted, and youth unemployment soared. By 2025, discontent had reached a boiling point.
Controversy During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Rajoelina also made international headlines during the COVID-19 pandemic by promoting a controversial herbal tonic he claimed could cure or prevent the virus.
He branded the drink “Covid-Organics,” touting it as a homegrown solution inspired by Madagascar’s natural remedies. The World Health Organization (WHO) warned against using unproven treatments, but Rajoelina dismissed critics and distributed the tonic nationwide, even to schoolchildren.
While the move won him praise among nationalists who saw it as a symbol of Malagasy pride, scientists and opposition figures accused him of spreading misinformation.
By 2023, Madagascar had recorded over 1,400 COVID-related deaths, and the president’s credibility suffered both at home and abroad.
2025: Youth Discontent Erupts Once Again
Fast forward to September 2025 — the start of what would become Madagascar’s largest youth uprising in over a decade.
Students, activists, and workers flooded the streets of Antananarivo to protest worsening power cuts, water shortages, and the rising cost of living. Within days, the demonstrations spread nationwide.
The president, who was in New York attending the United Nations General Assembly, returned to find his capital in chaos. Shops were looted, and even newly installed cable car stations — a symbol of his urban modernization projects — were set ablaze.
As the protests intensified, demonstrators began demanding Rajoelina’s resignation, accusing his government of corruption, elitism, and betrayal of public trust.
“Where is the wealthy Madagascar that the world once admired?” one protester asked. “We live without electricity, without clean water, and without hope.”
The Military Turns Against Him
The CAPSAT military unit, once Rajoelina’s strongest ally, eventually joined the demonstrators — a decisive moment that sealed his downfall.
On October 14, 2025, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, CAPSAT’s commander, declared that the armed forces were taking control of the country, suspending the constitution and the powers of the High Constitutional Court.
Randrianirina announced that the military would establish a transitional council and hold a referendum within two years, echoing Rajoelina’s own rise to power in 2009.
Within hours, parliament had impeached the president, who fled the country for safety, releasing a statement condemning the coup as “illegal” and “a betrayal of democracy.”
Ironically, Rajoelina — who once rallied the youth to bring down a government — was now brought down by a new generation demanding change.
History Repeats Itself in Madagascar
Madagascar’s latest political crisis underscores the cyclical nature of its leadership struggles — where military-backed power shifts and youth-driven revolutions have become recurring features of its modern history.
For Rajoelina, the parallels are striking: a young populist leader once seen as a symbol of hope, now overthrown by the very demographic that once idolized him.
Analysts say that while the military’s intervention may restore temporary order, the underlying issues — poverty, corruption, and inequality — remain unresolved.
Madagascar’s youth, who make up the majority of its population, are once again at the heart of both the crisis and the potential solution.
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