Madagascar’s Colonel Michel Randrianirina is due to be sworn in as the country’s transitional president on Friday.
Randrianarina and the transitional government have promised to hold elections in 18 to 24 months, he told local media, adding that consultations are underway to appoint a prime minister and form a new government.
It all came as Randrianari announced on Tuesday that the armed forces were taking over power in the country following the impeachment of former President Andrey Rajoelina, who had fled the country.
Protests against Rajoelina and his government, led by youth groups calling themselves “Gen Z Madagascar”, had rocked the country for weeks before the military takeover.
Randrianirina said, “It was not a coup, it was a matter of taking responsibility because the country was on the verge of collapse.”
He confirmed that the military had taken power and dissolved all institutions except the lower house of parliament or the National Assembly.
Randrianarina was a commander in the elite CAPSAT military unit that played a key role in the 2009 coup that first brought Rajoelina to power.
Madagascar was expelled from the African Union
The international community has expressed concern over the rapid change of power in the poor island nation.
The African Union said on Wednesday it was suspending Madagascar from the bloc “with immediate effect.”
Meanwhile, the United Nations said it was “deeply concerned by the unconstitutional change of power.”
France, Madagascar’s former colonial ruler, urged in a statement that “it is now essential that democracy, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law be faithfully upheld.”
A German Foreign Ministry spokesman said all actors “need to act with caution in the current somewhat confusing situation.”
Edited by: Zack Crellin