Madagascar President Dismisses Prime Minister & Cabinet

Madagascar’s transitional president Michael Randrianirina has dismissed the country’s prime minister and entire cabinet, marking a major reshuffle within the government formed after the 2025 youth-led uprising that toppled former president Andry Rajoelina.

The dismissal was announced on March 9, 2026, in a statement from presidential spokesperson Harry Laurent Rahajason, who said the president would soon appoint a new prime minister in accordance with constitutional procedures. The government statement did not provide a reason for the decision.

“The President will shortly proceed with the appointment of a new Prime Minister, following the procedures set out by the constitution,” Rahajason said.

Until a new cabinet is appointed, the secretaries general of each ministry will manage routine administrative operations.

The move removes the government led by civilian prime minister Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo, who had been appointed after Randrianirina assumed power following the political upheaval of October 2025.

Randrianirina, a colonel and commander of the elite CAPSAT military unit, took control of the Indian Ocean island nation after large-scale protests forced the resignation and subsequent impeachment of then-president Andry Rajoelina.

The removal of the cabinet suggests a recalibration of the transitional government as the country navigates political reform and economic challenges following months of instability.

The presidency said the cabinet was dismissed “in accordance with the application of the Constitution,” according to the Malagasy-language government statement released in Antananarivo.

Randrianirina’s rise to power followed the “Gen Z Mada” protests, a youth-driven movement that erupted on September 25, 2025, initially triggered by chronic infrastructure failures, including persistent water shortages and electricity outages.

In many areas of Madagascar, power cuts reportedly lasted more than 12 hours per day, fueling anger toward the state utility company JIRAMA and broader governance failures.

The protests rapidly expanded beyond infrastructure grievances. Demonstrators demanded an end to corruption, unemployment, poverty and what they described as wasteful government spending, including a $152 million cable car project launched while basic public services deteriorated.

A social media hub known as “Gen Z Madagascar” quickly became the movement’s organizing platform, attracting more than 100,000 followers as protests spread across the capital Antananarivo.

Clashes between demonstrators and security forces escalated over several weeks. According to the United Nations, at least 22 people were killed and dozens injured during the protests.

The political turning point came on October 11, 2025, when the CAPSAT elite military unit defected from the government and sided with protesters.

CAPSAT soldiers escorted demonstrators to symbolic protest sites such as Place du 13 Mai, a historic rallying point in Madagascar’s political movements.

The following day, October 12, Rajoelina fled the country amid fears for his safety. Reports indicated he left for Dubai aboard a French military aircraft.

The National Assembly subsequently voted unanimously to impeach him, and the military announced it had taken control of the country.

The High Constitutional Court later recognized Randrianirina as interim president, with a transitional mandate expected to last 18 to 24 months while political reforms and preparations for elections are carried out.

Randrianirina was formally sworn in on October 17, 2025, pledging to address corruption and investigate governance failures.

Madagascar’s transition has drawn international scrutiny. The African Union suspended Madagascar following the military takeover, citing its policy against unconstitutional changes of government.

Domestically, the transitional leadership has attempted to balance demands from the youth movement that drove the protests with concerns about prolonged military influence in politics.

Some activists have welcomed the military’s refusal to suppress the demonstrations, while others remain cautious about the long-term implications of military-led governance.

Madagascar remains one of the world’s poorest countries, with GDP per capita estimated at roughly $545 in recent years and more than half of the population under the age of 20, factors that contributed to the unrest.

The dismissal of the cabinet suggests the transitional leadership is preparing for a new phase in the reform process as it attempts to stabilize governance following the upheaval of late 2025.