In a dramatic twist following his ouster, Madagascar’s new government has officially revoked the citizenship of former President Andry Rajoelina, citing his acquisition of French nationality in 2014.
The decision, announced in a decree published on Friday, comes just 10 days after Rajoelina was removed from office in a military-led putsch, marking a new phase in the political crisis that has rocked the island nation.
According to reports from local media, the decree was made public through Madagascar’s official gazette, effectively stripping the 51-year-old politician of his Malagasy nationality and disqualifying him from contesting future elections.
“Rajoelina’s Malagasy nationality was revoked because he had acquired French nationality in 2014,” local media reported, adding that photographs of the decree have been circulating online.
New Prime Minister Confirms Decree
French broadcaster RFI confirmed the authenticity of the decree through sources close to the country’s new prime minister, Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo, who personally signed the order.
The decree cited provisions of Madagascar’s nationality law which state that “any Malagasy citizen who voluntarily acquires foreign nationality loses their Malagasy nationality.”
Old Controversy Resurfaces
Rajoelina’s dual nationality had previously sparked a major political scandal when it surfaced ahead of the November 2023 presidential elections, nearly a decade after he reportedly became a French citizen.
The revelation prompted calls for his disqualification, but Rajoelina pressed on to contest and win the disputed polls, which were boycotted by opposition parties.
Flight and Fall from Power
The former president fled the country earlier this month amid mounting protests and growing unrest. On October 11, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, head of the CAPSAT military unit, announced that his troops would no longer obey orders to crack down on demonstrators — many of whom were young protesters demanding reform.
Security forces had been accused of using excessive violence against the protesters before the mutiny.
Rajoelina later said he was “in hiding for his safety,” without revealing his location.
He was formally impeached on October 14, and Colonel Randrianirina was sworn in as president the same day, pledging to organize free and fair elections within two years.
The revocation of Rajoelina’s nationality further isolates the ousted leader, deepening questions about Madagascar’s political stability and the future of its democratic institutions as the country navigates yet another period of military rule.
