The Madagascar colonel who sent the president fleeing and took power

Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina delivers remarks during the opening session of the third UN Oceans Conference (UNOC3) in the French Riviera city of Nice on June 9, 2025. [AFP]

Colonel Michael Randrianirina had already become the face of Madagascar's military mutiny when he stood in uniform outside the presidential palace on Tuesday and told AFP the army had "taken power".

The 51-year-old commander with a history of opposing President Andry Rajoelina stepped into the limelight Saturday as leader of the mutinied CAPSAT contingent, declaring in a video statement they would "refuse orders to shoot" on anti-government demonstrators.