Madagascar’s new government has revoked the Malagasy citizenship of ousted President Andry Rajoelina, just ten days after his removal in a military coup.
A decree published on October 25 confirmed the decision, stating that Rajoelina lost his citizenship for voluntarily acquiring French nationality in 2014. Under Malagasy law, citizens who take up another nationality automatically forfeit their original one.
New Prime Minister Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo signed the decree, published in the official gazette and verified by French broadcaster RFI. Images of the document quickly spread across social media.
The revocation effectively bars Rajoelina, 51, from future elections. Parliament impeached him on October 14 after he fled the country amid mass protests against his leadership.
Questions about Rajoelina’s dual nationality first surfaced in 2023, ahead of the November presidential elections. Reports revealed that he had been a French citizen for nearly a decade. Despite opposition claims that this made him ineligible to run, Rajoelina contested and won a disputed election that opposition parties largely boycotted.
His downfall began on October 11, when Colonel Michael Randrianirina, head of the CAPSAT army unit, announced his troops would no longer suppress youth-led protests. Rajoelina soon went into hiding, citing security concerns but refusing to disclose his location.
Three days later, on October 14, Randrianirina was sworn in as Madagascar’s new president, pledging to restore order and hold elections within two years.
