Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina announced on Tuesday that he had dissolved the national assembly, deepening a political crisis marked by youth-led protests and growing unrest within the military.
A decree published on Facebook stated that the president had consulted with the leaders of both the assembly and the Senate before issuing the decision, though it remains unclear whether the move holds legal authority. The announcement came after Rajoelina was reportedly forced to leave the country following clashes between protesters and security forces.
Address from Hiding
In a live address on Facebook from an undisclosed location, the 51-year-old leader said he was in a «safe place» after surviving an alleged assassination attempt.
«Since 25 September, there have been attempts on my life and coup attempts. A group of military personnel and politicians planned to assassinate me,» he declared, insisting that he would not resign despite mounting pressure.
Rajoelina added that he believed the only solution was to «respect the constitution in force in the country.»
Protests and Political Turmoil
The address followed two weeks of nationwide demonstrations largely driven by young activists calling for his resignation. Known as the «Gen Z Mada» movement, the protests have expanded rapidly despite government efforts to defuse tensions. Rajoelina dismissed his cabinet and offered concessions, but these moves failed to restore calm.
Reports over the weekend suggested that parts of the military were moving to oust him, while opposition lawmakers began efforts to initiate impeachment proceedings.
Unconfirmed sources indicated that Rajoelina may have fled Madagascar on a French military aircraft, though this has not been verified. His last public appearance was on Wednesday, and the presidency had earlier claimed that he was facing an organised effort to remove him from power.
The president’s social media broadcast, which was delayed several times as soldiers reportedly attempted to seize the state broadcaster, underlined the fragility of the situation in the Indian Ocean nation as it faces one of its deepest political crises in years.
Kursiv also reports that Nepal’s President Ramchandra Paudel has dissolved parliament and announced fresh elections for March 5, 2026, following a week of unrest that left 51 people dead and over 1,300 injured. The decision came only hours after Paudel appointed former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as interim Prime Minister, making her the first woman to lead the country.
