Madagascar revokes ex-president's citizenship after military takeover

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
25 Oct 2025 08:52

Madagascar’s new military-led government has stripped ousted president Andry Rajoelina of his Malagasy citizenship, citing his 2014 French naturalization.

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Protesters dance on top of a car during a protest calling for President Andry Rajoelina to step down in Antananarivo, Madagascar, Tuesday, October 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Madagascar's transitional authorities have withdrawn former President Andry Rajoelina's Malagasy nationality, according to a decree published Friday, 10 days after he was removed from office in a military-led upheaval.

The order, signed by Prime Minister Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo and verified by RFI, states that Rajoelina lost his citizenship because he had acquired French nationality in 2014, a fact that only became public ahead of last year's presidential election. "The decree cited laws stipulating that a Malagasy who voluntarily acquires a foreign nationality loses their Malagasy nationality," local media reported, with photographs of the official document circulating online.

🇲🇬 L’ex-président Andry Rajoelina a été déchu de sa nationalité malagasy, selon un décret publié au journal officiel malgache aujourd’hui. Il avait acquis la nationalité française en 2014, entre ses deux mandats à la tête du pays. pic.twitter.com/AgiyilzKjU
— Nathalie Yamb (@Nath_Yamb) October 24, 2025

Rajoelina’s dual nationality sparked outrage ahead of the 2023 presidential elections, when it emerged that he had quietly obtained French citizenship nearly a decade earlier. Despite calls for his disqualification, he proceeded to contest and win the polls, boycotted by much of the opposition, before facing growing dissent over worsening living conditions, corruption, and power shortages.

Military turns back

The CAPSAT, an elite military unit that originally helped bring Rajoelina to power in 2009, turned against him this month amid youth-led protests and defections within the security forces. After the National Assembly voted to impeach the president on October 14, the High Constitutional Court recognized Randrianirina’s authority as interim head of state.

The African Union suspended Madagascar’s membership two days later, condemning the coup and urging a return to constitutional order. "From now on, there will be behind-the-scenes negotiations, we’ll see how things unfold," Randrianirina said during a press conference following the AU’s decision.

Randrianirina was sworn in on October 17 as "President for the Refoundation of the Republic of Madagascar," pledging to hold elections within two years. Days later, he appointed Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo, a former banking executive, as prime minister, tasking him with restoring administrative stability and rebuilding international confidence amid the ongoing crisis.

Rajoelina, 51, has remained in hiding since his ouster, saying he left "for his safety." His removal marks a dramatic reversal of fortunes for a leader once seen as the face of Madagascar’s political transformation, now sidelined by the same military force that once propelled him to power.