Madagascar President Appoints Anti-Corruption Chief as Prime Minister

Madagascar’s leadership transition entered a new phase after President Michael Randrianirina appointed anti-corruption official Mamitiana Rajaonarison as prime minister, days after dismissing the previous government.

The decision signals a consolidation of the reform program the president launched after taking power and places an anti-corruption figure at the center of the country’s executive leadership.

The appointment was announced on March 15, 2026 at the Iavoloha State Palace, where the presidency confirmed that Rajaonarison would become the second prime minister since the start of the political reform process.

The move followed the dismissal of former prime minister Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo and the entire cabinet on Monday, a sweeping decision that removed all ministers from office. No detailed explanation was provided when the president dismissed the prime minister and ministers.

The removal created a temporary leadership vacuum at the executive level until the new prime minister was announced.

President Randrianirina, who assumed power in October after a political transition that led to the collapse of the previous administration, framed the new appointment as part of a broader effort to restore public trust and strengthen state institutions.

During the announcement ceremony broadcast on state television, Randrianirina emphasized integrity as a central requirement for the role. “That integrity you have is what I expect from you as prime minister,” the president said.

“Show that the country needs people of integrity - people who cannot be swayed and who cannot be bought.”

The presidency also confirmed that Rajaonarison’s immediate responsibilities include forming a new cabinet and implementing the government’s policy agenda. According to the official statement, the president expects “quick and precise results” from the incoming administration.

Rajaonarison’s background in anti-corruption work was presented as a decisive factor in his selection. The president described the appointment as a deliberate choice aimed at reinforcing the administration’s reform agenda.

The presidential statement said the new prime minister had spent years involved in anti-corruption efforts and had demonstrated personal integrity in previous public service roles.

The president referenced a moment earlier in Rajaonarison’s career when he resigned from a position in the Tetezamita administration after facing pressure from another officer, presenting the decision as evidence of independence and ethical commitment.

According to the presidency, this decision influenced the president’s confidence in the new prime minister. “It’s a great decision, which took you in a different direction and made you now the Prime Minister,” Randrianirina said during the ceremony.

The leadership change forms part of a political agenda described by the president as a “Refoundation” of the state. Since taking power in October, Randrianirina has repeatedly framed his administration as a reset of governance structures intended to strengthen institutions and rebuild confidence in government.

Among the priorities identified for the new prime minister is the formation of a functioning cabinet and the coordination of political forces across the country. The presidential statement highlighted the task of unifying political parties across the island as one of the challenges awaiting the new government.

Randrianirina suggested the reform agenda requires decisive leadership rather than adherence to traditional political practices. “If only people who follow the river, follow the usual politics of the past, nothing will change in Madagascar,” he said.

The appointment places Rajaonarison at the center of the administration’s reform program as Madagascar moves forward with its political restructuring process in 2026.