Madagascar has been plunged into political turmoil after President Andry Rajoelina announced that a military-led operation to seize power is officially underway, marking a dramatic escalation in the island nation's constitutional crisis.
Constitutional Framework Suspended
In a nationally televised address that sent shockwaves through the international community, President Rajoelina declared that the military had initiated what he termed a 'mission of rectification and restoration.' The move effectively suspends several key constitutional functions and institutions.
The president justified these extraordinary measures by citing what he described as an 'imminent danger' threatening the nation, though he provided scant evidence to support these claims. Opposition leaders and constitutional experts have universally condemned the action as an unconstitutional power grab.
Military Takes Control of Key Institutions
According to multiple sources, the armed forces have moved to secure vital government buildings and communication centres across the capital, Antananarivo. Military presence has been significantly reinforced around the presidential palace and other strategic locations.
'This isn't a rectification - it's a military coup in everything but name,' declared an opposition politician who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals. 'The constitutional order has been systematically dismantled in broad daylight.'
International Community Reacts
The African Union and United Nations have expressed deep concern about the unfolding situation. Diplomatic sources indicate emergency meetings are being convened to discuss potential responses to what many are calling an unconstitutional transfer of power.
Regional bodies have historically taken a firm stance against military interventions in political processes, though Madagascar's unique geographical and political position presents complex challenges for international mediators.
Historical Context of Political Instability
This latest crisis represents another chapter in Madagascar's turbulent political history. The nation has experienced multiple military-backed transitions of power since gaining independence from France in 1960, with the most recent coup occurring in 2009.
Political analysts warn that this military intervention threatens to undo years of fragile democratic progress and could have severe consequences for both political stability and economic development in one of the world's poorest nations.
