Madagascar’s New Government Revokes Ousted President Andry Rajoelina’s Citizenship After Military Takeover

Madagascar’s new government has revoked the Malagasy nationality of ousted president Andry Rajoelina, according to a decree published Friday—just 10 days after he was removed from power in a military takeover.

The decree, published in the country’s official gazette, states that Rajoelina lost his Malagasy nationality upon acquiring French citizenship in 2014, local media reported. Photographs of the document circulated widely online.

French broadcaster RFI confirmed the decree with officials close to the new prime minister, Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo, who signed the order. Under Malagasy law, any citizen who voluntarily acquires another nationality automatically forfeits their Malagasy citizenship.

The move bars the 51-year-old Rajoelina from contesting future elections. His dual nationality had sparked controversy ahead of the November 2023 presidential race—nearly a decade after he secretly obtained French citizenship—prompting calls for his disqualification. Despite the uproar, he won the disputed polls, which were boycotted by opposition parties.

Rajoelina fled Madagascar earlier this month after Col. Michael Randrianirina, commander of the army’s CAPSAT unit, refused to follow orders to suppress youth-led protests that had rocked the capital for weeks. Randrianirina later announced the military takeover and was sworn in as president on October 14, promising to hold elections within two years.

Rajoelina has since said he went into hiding for his safety but has not disclosed his location.