Madagascar President Decries Illegal Power Grab After Army Mutiny

When Andry Nirina Rajoelina, President of the Republic of Madagascar (age 49) announced an illegal power grab on Sunday, October 12, 2025, the nation held its breath. The televised address, delivered from the fortified Iavoloha Presidential Palace at 18:03 EAT, came after a sudden mutiny that erupted at 04:17 EAT at the Andavadoaka Military Camp in the capital, Antananarivo. Leading the revolt was Colonel Jean Louis Ratsimba, 42, commander of the 1st Infantry Regiment, who ordered roughly 200 soldiers to seize the camp’s armory and block the Ministry of National Defense.

Background to the Crisis

Madagascar’s political history is a tapestry of coups and fragile democratic transitions. The most recent military takeover in March 2009 toppled President Marc Ravalomanana and installed a transitional government headed by the same Andry Nirina Rajoelina before he won a presidential election in 2019. Since then, the island nation has struggled with delayed salaries for troops, a lingering sense of marginalisation in the armed forces, and a volatile balance between civilian rule and military influence.

On September 28, 2025, Colonel Ratsimba was suspended after a disciplinary hearing for allegedly refusing to follow orders – a decision that ignited discontent among his regiment. The grievances simmered until the morning parade turned into a flashpoint.

Chronology of the Mutiny

04:17 EAT – Soldiers from the 1st Infantry Regiment refused a command to disperse during a routine drill. Colonel Ratsimba shouted, "We will not be abandoned," and his men moved to capture the camp’s main armory, securing 1,200 AK‑47 rifles, 150 grenade launchers, and three armored personnel carriers.

06:45 EAT – Mutineers streamed into Radio Nationale Madagascar headquarters on Avenue Andrianina, broadcasting their demands to a stunned public.

07:15 EAT – Richard Randriamandranto, 58, Minister of National Defense (in office since January 15, 2023), was seized while attempting to negotiate at the camp gate.

08:00 EAT – General Herilala Rakotoson, 55, Chief of General Staff, was placed under house arrest on Rue du 13 Mai after refusing to endorse the uprising.

09:45 EAT – The Central Bank of Madagascar locked its gold reserves – 12.7 metric tons worth roughly $847 million – in underground vaults amid fears of looting.

11:30 EAT – Over the airwaves, the mutineers listed three core demands: payment of six months’ overdue wages (3,200,000 MGA per soldier, about $640), dismissal of Minister Randriamandranto, and reinstatement of Colonel Ratsimba.

12:10 EAT – A contingent seized Ivato International Airport, grounding all flights, including Air Madagascar Flight MA402 to Paris with 187 passengers.

14:15 EAT – The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Regional Peace and Security Council, meeting in Gaborone, Botswana, condemned the mutiny as a "flagrant violation of constitutional order" and called for the swift restoration of President Rajoelina’s authority.

16:40 UTC (19:40 EAT) – António Guterres, United Nations Secretary‑General, issued a statement from New York expressing "grave concern" and demanding the unconditional release of detained officials.

17:55 EAT – President Rajoelina invoked Article 42 of the Madagascar Constitution, declaring a nationwide state of emergency and authorising the Republican Guard and paramilitary forces to secure key infrastructure.

Human Cost and Immediate Casualties

The Ministry of Interior’s briefing at 10:22 EAT confirmed that seven soldiers loyal to the government were killed and 23 injured during the early clash at Andavadoaka’s perimeter. Mutineers reported four fatalities and 18 wounded among their ranks. The death toll, though still modest compared with past coups, sent shockwaves through a society already scarred by the 2009 upheaval that left over 3,000 civilians dead, according to a UN Human Rights Council report from June 2010.

Families gathered at makeshift memorials in the Ambodifasina district, holding candles and whispering prayers. The emotional toll is palpable; dozens of children have been displaced from their homes as soldiers set up temporary checkpoints around the capital.

Domestic and International Reactions

Domestically, opposition leader Andry Rajoelina (yes, the same man) faced an unexpected surge of public support, with many Malagasy expressing solidarity on social media using the hashtag #MadagascarUnites. Business leaders, however, warned of spiralling inflation as the Malagasy ariary slipped 12.7 % against the US dollar within four hours of the mutiny’s onset.

Internationally, the African Union Commission, chaired by Moussa Faki Mahamat, convened an emergency session in Addis Ababa at 13:00 EAT, urging all parties to respect constitutional order and to resume dialogue.

Western embassies in Antananarivo called for restraint. The United States’ chargé d’affaires, Marie‑Claire Johnston, released a brief note emphasizing the importance of “a peaceful, lawful resolution that protects civilians and upholds democratic institutions.”

Economic Fallout

Within hours, the Madagascar Stock Exchange halted trading at 10:00 EAT. Analysts at the local firm BNI Capital projected a 4‑6 % contraction in GDP for the current quarter if the crisis extends beyond the weekend. The lock‑down of Ivato Airport also choked tourism—a sector that contributes roughly 8 % of the nation’s GDP.

Foreign investors watching the gold reserve lockdown fear a run on the currency. The World Bank’s regional director, Ana‑Maria Silva, warned that “prolonged instability could reverse years of modest economic gains, pushing millions back into poverty.”

Legal Battle Over the State of Emergency

Monday, October 13, 2025, at 08:00 EAT, the Constitutional Court—headed by President Harinelina Ramanantsoa, 62—will rule on the legality of the emergency decree. Legal scholars from the University of Antananarivo argue that the president’s move, while constitutionally permissible, must be proportionate and time‑bound. Critics fear it could be used to suppress dissent.

Should the court uphold the decree, the Republican Guard will likely be deployed to retake the airport, the central bank, and Radio Nationale. If it strikes down the measure, the president may have to negotiate directly with Colonel Ratsimba, risking further concessions.

What Comes Next?

In the next 24 hours, we can expect intense diplomatic activity. SADC, the African Union, and the United Nations will likely send envoys to mediate. Meanwhile, the soldiers occupying the airport have reportedly opened a humanitarian corridor for stranded passengers, but supplies are running low.

For ordinary Malagasy, the biggest question remains: will the nation revert to a fragile peace, or will this mutiny mark a new chapter of military assertiveness? The world will be watching.