Protesters welcome members of the military a during a rally in Antananarivo, Madagascar, 14 October 2025. Madagascar's president Andry Rajoelina has confirmed he has fled the country during an address to the nation on social media after CAPSAT, an elite military unit, joined the protesters over the weekend. He has also announced the dissolution of the Malagasy National Assembly. EPA/HENITSOA RAFALIA 
Ex-leader Andry Rajoelina, whom lawmakers impeached after he fled abroad at the weekend, has condemned the takeover and refused to step down while in exile, despite widespread defections in the security forces and the High Constitutional Court ratifying the army takeover within hours of it happening.
The African Union and the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have condemned the coup, which came after weeks of "Gen Z" protests initially triggered by severe, chronic power and water shortages.
MILITARY-LED COMMITTEE TO RULE FOR UP TO TWO YEARS
"I will fully, completely, and justly fulfil the high responsibilities of my position as President of the Republic of Madagascar," Randrianirina said in a ceremony at the High Constitutional Court, a colonial-era red-brick building of French windows, segmental arches and stone balustrades.
"I swear that I will exercise the power entrusted to me and dedicate all my strength to defending and strengthening national unity and human rights," he added, before military officers raised swords and trumpets blared to mark the handover.
While many of the youths cheered the demise of Rajoelina's administration, which came to office in a 2009 coup, some are already expressing misgivings about the swiftness with which the army stepped in to fill the power vacuum.
Randrianirina had said earlier that the military had taken power and dissolved all institutions except the lower house of parliament, or National Assembly.
He also said that a committee led by the military would rule for up to two years alongside a transitional government before organising new elections.
ELITE ARMY UNIT
Randrianirina was a commander in the elite CAPSAT army unit that played a role in the 2009 coup that brought Rajoelina to power but broke ranks with him last week, urging soldiers not to fire on protesters.
Madagascar's population of about 30 million people has an average age of less than 20 years.
Three-quarters of the people live in poverty, and the average income is barely $600 a month while prices of basic goods such as the staple rice have spiralled.
Between its independence in 1960 and 2020, GDP per capita plunged 45%, according to the World Bank, one of the few countries to have become worse off over that period.
(Reporting by Tim Cocks and Lovasoa Rabary, editing by Ammu Kannampilly and Alex Richardson)