Colonel Michael Randrianirina (born c. 1974) is a Malagasy military officer and politician who has served as the ninth president of Madagascar and as Chairman of the Council of the Presidency for the Re-Foundation of the Republic of Madagascar since 14 October 2025 after being confirmed by the High Constitutional Court amidst the 2025 Madagascar coup d'état. He previously served as Governor of Androy from 2016 to 2018, then later as a senior military commander and head of the CAPSAT unit. == Political and military career == Randrianirina received his military training at the Antsirabe Military Academy. Randrianirina was Governor of the Androy region between 2016 and 2018, during the presidency of Hery Rajaonarimampianina. He then served as an infantry battalion commander in Toliara until July 2022. He later became head of the elite CAPSAT unit. === 2023 arrest === Randrianirina gradually became a vocal critic of President Andry Rajoelina. He was "hastily arrested" for mutiny on 27 November 2023 and charged with "instigating a military mutiny and attempting a coup d'état". On the same day, he was both put before court and immediately sent to Tsiafahy prison. He was released in February 2024, after being given a suspended sentence for attacking state security, and returned to CAPSAT. == 2025 political crisis == On 25 September 2025, protests broke out across Madagascar due to power and water outages that have been very common nationwide especially in the capital Antananarivo. To calm the protesters, President Andry Rajoelina dismissed Prime Minister Christian Ntsay; however, this failed to satisfy the protesters. === Coup d'état === On the morning of 12 October 2025, President Andry Rajoelina announced an attempt to seize power by the CAPSAT units who joined protesters. The alert was first raised after a few military personnel were seen leaving the barracks to join the protesters. Randrianirina denied that a coup had taken place, saying that they had only "answered the people's calls". On 12 October, former prime minister Ntsay and one of Rajoelina's advisers, Mamy Ravatomanga, arrived in Mauritius aboard a private flight the Mauritian government saying that it was "not satisfied" at the arrival. A government spokesperson said Rajoelina is still in the country managing national affairs. He was scheduled to address the nation on the evening of 13 October, but Reuters reported that Rajoelina had left the country on a French military aircraft departing from Sainte Marie Airport in northeastern Madagascar on 12 October after he had made an agreement with French President Emmanuel Macron. On 13 October, Rajoelina made a video announcement from the official Facebook page of the Malagasy presidency that he had been evacuated to an undisclosed safe place after an assassination attempt against him by "a group of military personnel and politicians". On 14 October, Rajoelina issued a decree dissolving the National Assembly that was scheduled to launch impeachment measures against him following consultations with the presidents of the assembly and Senate. This would have allowed for elections to be held in 60 days. Despite Rajoelina's orders, the National Assembly proceeded to impeach him with 130 votes in favor and one blank vote. While head of CAPSAT, Randrianirina joined the 2025 Malagasy mutiny against incumbent president Andry Rajoelina amidst the 2025 Malagasy protests; calling for soldiers "to refuse to repress the population, to take responsibility, and to play their part". In 13 May Square, Randrianirina called for the president and prime minister to resign, among others. === Presidency === After Rajoelina fled the country, on 14 October 2025, CAPSAT occupied the Presidential Palace and declared Randrianirina as interim president. Randrianirina confirmed the dissolution of all institutions except the National Assembly. His statement said: "The following institutions are suspended: the Senate, the High Constitutional Court, the Independent National Electoral Commission, the High Court of Justice, and the High Council for the Defense of Human Rights and the Rule of Law." He promised an election within two years and said they would set up a committee made up of officers from the army, paramilitary gendarmerie and national police to rule the nation. He was formally asked to carry out the duties of interim President of Madagascar as Chairman of the Council of the Presidency for the Re-Foundation of the Republic by the High Constitutional Court on that day. On 15 October, Malagasy state television announced that Randrianirina would be inaugurated on 17 October as "President of the Refoundation of the Republic of Madagascar" during a session of the Constitutional Court. He was sworn in on that date as planned. During his inaugural speech at the High Constitutional Court, Randrianirina said it marked a "historic turning point" for Madagascar and expressed his determination to "break with the past" and "open a new chapter in the nation's life." Randrianirina thanked the Gen Z protestors. He stated that his first three priorities would be an investigation into the water and power company Jirama, rice farming, and appointing a prime minister and government. == Personal life == Randrianirina is from Sevohipoty, a village located southeast of Ambovombe Androy. He is a member of the Malagasy Lutheran Church. He is married to Elisa Randrianirina. == References ==