Colonel Michael Randrianirina has been sworn in as the new president of Madagascar, days after a military takeover in the Indian Ocean nation.
He succeeds ousted President Andry Rajoelina, who fled the country and was later impeached following weeks of youth-led protests demanding greater accountability from his government.
The ceremony took place at the Constitutional Court in the capital, Antananarivo, where a large crowd gathered to watch – including those who spearheaded the protests.
The country now enters a transition period, which will be full of political obstacles and legal uncertainty – though there is cautious optimism about Col Randrianirina’s leadership.
When taking power on Tuesday, October 14, he said the military would form a government and hold elections within two years.
Ahead of Friday’s swearing-in, he added that reforming the Electoral Commission and cleaning up the voters’ roll were essential before fresh elections could be held, according to news site L’Express de Madagascar.
