Madagascar’s military has announced that it has assumed control of the Indian Ocean island, an army colonel said on Tuesday, following President Andry Rajoelina’s departure abroad.
“We have taken power,” said Colonel Michael Randrianirina, who led a group of soldiers that joined demonstrations by the Gen Z movement, speaking on national radio.
The colonel added that the military was dissolving all state institutions except the lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, which had voted to impeach President Rajoelina moments earlier.
Earlier in the day, Rajoelina, 51, had attempted to dissolve the assembly through a presidential decree.
Despite leaving the country aboard a French military aircraft, Rajoelina has maintained that he remains president, resisting calls to resign following weeks of protests and divisions within the military.
The presidency has not yet responded to Colonel Randrianirina’s announcement.
However, it stated earlier that the National Assembly’s session was unconstitutional and that any resolutions passed were “null and void.”
