Madagascar’s government has been taken over by the military. The colonel who led the coup says that he will soon be sworn in as president of the island nation off the East African coast. The coup followed weeks of so-called Gen Z protests against President Andry Rajoelina. Rajoelina fled his nation after being impeached by the country’s lawmakers over the weekend. He said Tuesday that he was hiding in “a safe place.” He says he is the target of a plot to assassinate him. Some reports said that he fled on a French military plane. Colonel Michael Randrianirina told The Associated Press that he would stay in office until new elections can be secured. That could take as long as 18 months to two years. Madagascar is a nation of 30 million people. It is known for its diverse wildlife. It is the globe’s leading producer of vanilla. It was once a French colony. The country has been troubled with political turmoil ever since it won independence in 1960. Nearly 75% of the country lives in poverty. For weeks, thousands of young people had been flooding the streets of Madagascar. They called on Rajoelina to step down. The country has been struggling with energy cuts, as well as water supply problems. They also called for more jobs, better access to higher education. Rajoelina dissolved his government in response. He said he understood “the anger” of the protesters. That did not quiet the protests. Colonel Randrianirina was the head of an elite army unit. It once helped Rajoelina’s rise to power. But he broke ties with Rajoelina last week. Reflect: What are some ways people can work together to create change when they feel their leaders are not meeting their needs? Photo of Malagasy military base welcoming Colonel Michael Randrianirina from Reuters.
