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Madagascar’s new administration has revoked the Malagasy nationality of former president Andry Rajoelina in a decree released on Friday, according to media reports, just ten days after his ousting during a military coup.
This decree implies that Rajoelina, who was impeached on October 14 after fleeing the island nation amid weeks of protests, will be unable to run in future elections.
The decree, published in the official gazette, stated that Rajoelina’s Malagasy nationality had been revoked due to his acquisition of French citizenship in 2014, as local media reported, and images of the decree circulated online.
French media outlet RFI confirmed the decree with the staff of the new prime minister, Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo, who endorsed the order.
The decree referred to regulations stating that a Malagasy citizen who voluntarily takes on a foreign nationality forfeits their Malagasy citizenship.
Rajoelina’s possession of French nationality sparked controversy when it was disclosed before the November 2023 elections, nearly a decade after it was obtained. This led to demands for his disqualification, yet he proceeded to win the disputed elections, which opposition parties chose to boycott.
The 51-year-old politician left Madagascar after army Colonel Michael Randrianirina announced on October 11 that his CAPSAT unit would not comply with orders to quell the youth-led protest movement, which security forces had attempted to suppress violently.
Rajoelina later stated he was in hiding for his own safety but did not disclose his location.
Randrianirina was inaugurated as president on October 14, committing to hold elections within 2 years.
