Col Michael Randrianirina has been sworn in as the brand new president of Madagascar days after a navy takeover on the Indian Ocean nation.
He swapped his fatigues for a go well with and thanked the younger individuals who took to the streets for weeks of protests that prompted President Andry Rajoelina to flee the nation and led to his impeachment.
The ceremony occurred on the Constitutional Court docket within the capital, Antananarivo, the place a big crowd gathered to observe – together with those that spearheaded the demonstrations.
“At this time marks a historic turning-point for our nation. With a folks in full fervour, pushed by the will for change… we joyfully open a brand new chapter within the lifetime of our nation,” he stated.
The previous French colony now enters a transition interval, which shall be filled with political obstacles and authorized uncertainty – although there may be cautious optimism about Col Randrianirina’s management.
Constitutional Court docket president Florent Rakotoarisoa has criticised the worldwide neighborhood for describing the state of affairs in Madagascar as a coup.
He denied that there had been a violation of the structure in Madagascar, as a substitute blaming the structure for inflicting the state of affairs to deteriorate.
Protesters had hoped that Rajoelina would merely resign and pave the way in which for a easy, democratic transition.
As a substitute, he clung to energy, dissolving his authorities and holding a collection of dialogues with completely different teams of individuals, efforts that weren’t sufficient to appease the protesters.
The protests, which began final month, had been initially organised by a youth motion referred to as Gen Z Mada – angered by persistent energy and water shortages.
Col Randrianirina was head of Madagascar’s elite CAPSAT military unit, when on Tuesday his troops joined the hundreds of protesters on the streets of the capital.
He instructed the Gen Z demonstrators he was taking energy and that the navy would type a authorities and maintain elections inside two years.
Professional-democracy advocates, each inside and out of doors the nation, hope that this promise shall be fulfilled.
On the ceremony on the nation’s high court docket, Reuters information company stories that trumpets blared after Randrianirina took his oath of workplace, promising to “dedicate all my power to defending and strengthening nationwide unity and human rights”.
Carrying an official sash and star of workplace, he reaffirmed his dedication to alter.
“We are going to work hand in hand with all of the driving forces of the nation to draft a superb structure,” he stated, including that electoral reforms could be instituted earlier than a brand new vote was held.
“We’re dedicated to breaking with the previous. Our foremost mission is to totally reform the nation’s administrative, socio-economic and political methods of governance.”
After the ceremony, the brand new president spoke to reporters exterior the constitutional court docket and outlined in additional element what he thought of to be his high priorities.
He stated he would begin with launching an investigation into the state-owned water and energy firm, Jirama.
“At this time and tomorrow, we’ll look at the state of affairs at Jirama – what is going on there and what issues at present exist. This evaluate goals to stop additional difficulties sooner or later. That’s our first social precedence,” he stated.
“The second precedence is rice farming. As we enter the agricultural season, we should assess how finest to proceed.
“The third precedence is the appointment of the prime minister and formation of the federal government.”
Like different former French colonies in Africa which have skilled coups lately, it has been hinted that relations with France may change below his management with hotter ties sought with Russia.
On Thursday, Randrianirina attended a gathering with Russian embassy officers to reportedly talk about “severe” co-operation between the 2 nations.
Earlier throughout the protests, folks had been seen on the streets waving Russian flags calling for Moscow’s intervention.
Extra about Madagascar from the BBC:
[Getty Images/BBC]
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