UN Condemns Madagascar Military Coup, Urges Swift Restoration of Constitutional Order

ANTANANARIVO, MADAGASCAR – The United Nations has strongly condemned the military takeover in Madagascar, calling for an immediate return to constitutional order and the rule of law in the Indian Ocean island nation.

The condemnation from UN Secretary-General António Guterres comes as Colonel Michael Randrianirina, who led the military unit responsible for the coup, is set to be sworn in as the country's new leader just days after the unconstitutional change of government.

In a statement delivered by UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric on Thursday, the Secretary-General said he "condemns the unconstitutional change of government in Madagascar and calls for the return to constitutional order and the rule of law."

The military's seizure of power followed weeks of deadly anti-government protests, largely led by disaffected young people, known as "Gen Z Madagascar," who were demonstrating against widespread poverty, corruption, and failures in government services like chronic water and power outages. Ousted President Andry Rajoelina fled the country following the military rebellion, claiming his life was in danger.

Call for Unity and Addressing Root Causes

Beyond the immediate condemnation, the UN chief also urged all Malagasy stakeholders to work toward peace and unity by tackling the underlying factors fueling the country's instability.

"The Secretary-General encourages all the Malagasy stakeholders, including the youth, to work together to address the underlying causes of instability in the country," the statement read.

This call for unity and a focus on root causes highlights the deep-seated socioeconomic grievances that initially sparked the protests and provided the backdrop for the military intervention.

International Pressure Mounts

The UN's position aligns with regional partners, including the African Union (AU), which has already taken punitive action. The UN statement noted the AU's decision to "immediately suspend the country from participation in all activities of the Union, its Organs and Institutions, until constitutional order is restored in the country."

The Secretary-General reiterated the UN's availability to support national efforts toward stability in collaboration with the AU and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Colonel Randrianirina, the elite CAPSAT military unit commander, announced on Tuesday that the armed forces were taking control. He stated that a military council would run the country with him as president for up to two years before new elections are held.

The international community's unified stance underscores the rejection of the military's action and increases pressure on the new, unelected leadership to adhere to a timetable for restoring democratic governance. Madagascar, a nation with a tumultuous history of political crises since its independence in 1960, is now facing renewed uncertainty amid dire humanitarian conditions worsened by drought and other climate challenges.