Madagascar president dissolves government

President Michael Randrianirina will appoint a new prime minister “shortly” to replace Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo, an official has said

Madagascar’s interim president, Michael Randrianirina, has dismissed his prime minister and the entire cabinet in the first major shake-up since taking office after a coup last October.

The presidency’s communications chief, Harry Laurent Rahajason, announced the decision in a statement on Monday, saying Randrianirina will “shortly” appoint a new prime minister to replace Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo.

“Until the appointment of a prime minister and new members of the government, the secretary general of each ministry is responsible for the day-to-day running of the government,” the official stated.

Randrianirina took power in October after leading the military-backed overthrow of Andry Rajoelina, following weeks of youth-led protests over water and electricity shortages, poverty, and alleged corruption. Randrianirina, a colonel in the elite CAPSAT unit, was sworn in on October 17 and later said a military-led transition could last up to two years before elections.

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Rajaonarivelo, a businessman, was appointed prime minister on October 20. At the time, Randrianirina said he chose him for his experience and his “connections with the international organizations that work with us,” according to Reuters.

No reason was given for Rajaonarivelo’s dismissal.

The move marks the first reset of the transition government and comes amid a string of recent disasters, including the collapse of a hydro-agricultural dam in Analamanga near the capital and deadly cyclones.

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The authorities declared a state of national disaster on February 14 after Cyclones Gezani and Fytia caused widespread destruction. Fytia killed at least 14 people and displaced more than 31,000 when it struck on January 31, triggering severe flooding in the northwest and central highlands. Last month, Gezani hit the east coast near Toamasina, the country’s main port, devastating nearly 90% of infrastructure, killing at least 59 people and leaving hundreds of thousands without shelter or clean water.