Madagascar’s political crisis reached a dramatic climax on Friday as army colonel Michael Randrianirina was officially sworn in as the country’s new president, just days after leading a swift military coup that toppled President Andry Rajoelina and forced him to flee the country. The ceremony, held in the main chamber of the High Constitutional Court, saw Randrianirina take the oath of office before nine red-robed judges in a moment that sealed the army’s grip on power.

Randrianirina, commander of an elite military unit, declared in his address that the nation had entered a “turning point” and vowed to deliver deep reforms in governance. “The Madagascan people are thirsting for profound change in the way our country is governed,” he said, standing beside the national red, green, and white flag. His remarks echoed growing frustration among the youth-led protest movements that fueled the unrest leading to the coup.

The 51-year-old new leader called for peace and unity while pledging to “break away from the harmful practices of the past.” His rapid ascent — from leading a mutiny to taking the presidential oath within three days — underscores both the volatility of Madagascar’s political landscape and the army’s dominant role in shaping the nation’s future.

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