Published On 2/6/2026
Seven months after his rise to power, Colonel Mikael Randrianirina, head of the “Reestablishment” Authority in Madagascar, came out in a long television speech yesterday evening, Sunday, reviewing the outcome of a phase that observers described as a phase of retreat from promises.
This was only the second time that Randrianirina addressed public opinion since he came to power in October 2025, following popular protests that broke out under the banner of “Generation Z” that demanded the overthrow of the previous regime led by Andry Rajoelina, and the fight against corruption and achieving justice were at the forefront of its demands.
An admission of inability to fight corruption
The president used his speech to defend his government’s achievements in the areas of access to water, electricity, and higher education reform, but he did not avoid acknowledging the limitations of what has been achieved. The most prominent confession was regarding corruption, as Randrianirena acknowledged that “things have not really changed” at this level, which Radio France Internationale described as a “very significant confession” given that the fight against corruption was the strongest promise on which the popular momentum that brought him to power was based.
Randrianirina also announced that the national dialogue sessions scheduled to be launched tomorrow, Wednesday, will bring him together with the Prime Minister, the Minister in charge of Reestablishment, and the heads of the four Christian churches. However, this announcement raised eyebrows, as the Church Council had announced in late April that he had been excluded from this process.
Rapprochement with Moscow under the guise of “multilateralism”
On the level of international relations, Randrianirina denied any bias towards Russia, based on the policy of international pluralism, and justified military cooperation with Moscow by the “historic use of Russian weapons” by the Malagasy army. However, this logic is “difficult to convince observers of,” according to what French radio described, in light of the proliferation of Russian equipment transfer deals since he assumed power. Reports indicate that Russian “African Corps” forces were deployed to train the Malagasy army, as well as to protect the transitional president himself, in addition to delivering trucks and two helicopters.
Partners or detainees?
It is noteworthy that the coalition that led to power fractured with remarkable speed. On April 10, Generation Z activists organized a peaceful march in the capital, Antananarivo, to demand setting a date for elections and accelerating reforms. Four of them were arrested two days later. Civil society organizations have described these arrests as “arbitrary,” noting that the use of the charge of “harming state security” is reminiscent of the same practices that were used against them during the era of the overthrown regime, according to what was reported by the Madagascar Tribune newspaper.
On the other hand, Randrianirena accused the leaders of “Generation Z” of “receiving funding from opponents of the regime,” which the activists rejected, demanding the dissolution of the Constitutional Court, the National Assembly, and the Election Commission, which they consider obstacles to real change.
Amnesty International recently documented this shift by saying that Madagascar is moving “from a Generation Z uprising to the rule of a military junta, and the promise of change is evaporating.”
