Madagascar’s President dissolves parliament amid escalating political crisis

Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has dissolved the national assembly, an unexpected move aimed at blocking an opposition-led vote to remove him from office as the country faces a deepening political crisis. The decree, announced on Tuesday, took immediate effect once broadcast on radio and television, according to a statement from the presidency. The decision came after more than two weeks of violent protests that have shaken the island nation and left several people dead. The unrest began on September 25, driven mainly by young protesters angry over worsening water and electricity sho

Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has dissolved the national assembly, an unexpected move aimed at blocking an opposition-led vote to remove him from office as the country faces a deepening political crisis. The decree, announced on Tuesday, took immediate effect once broadcast on radio and television, according to a statement from the presidency. The decision came after more than two weeks of violent protests that have shaken the island nation and left several people dead. The unrest began on September 25, driven mainly by young protesters angry over worsening water and electricity shortages. What started as frustration over poor services quickly grew into nationwide demonstrations demanding Rajoelina’s resignation. Many young people accuse the ruling elite of corruption and neglect. Clashes between protesters and security forces have turned deadly, forcing the 51-year-old president to go into hiding. In a social media post, Rajoelina defended his decision to dissolve parliament, saying it was necessary to “restore order within our nation and strengthen democracy.” He added that “the People must be heard again. Make way for the youth.” Before the president’s announcement, opposition leader Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko said lawmakers were preparing to vote for Rajoelina’s impeachment. He accused the president of “desertion of duty” after reports suggested Rajoelina had fled the country. Rajoelina later confirmed he was in a “safe space” following what he described as attempts on his life but did not reveal his location. The crisis deepened further when soldiers from the CAPSAT unit the same military force that helped Rajoelina seize power in a 2009 coup publicly expressed support for protesters over the weekend. Their statement marked a rare show of defiance from within the armed forces and added pressure on the embattled leader. Rajoelina, a former mayor of Antananarivo, first rose to power in 2009 after a military-backed coup. He was later elected president in 2018 and re-elected in 2023. Last week, in an attempt to calm tensions, he dismissed his cabinet and appointed a new prime minister, but the move failed to ease public anger.