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Madagascar’s newly established government has officially stripped former President Andry Rajoelina of his Malagasy nationality, according to media reports, in a decree published on Friday—just ten days after his removal from office.
The decree effectively bars Rajoelina from participating in any future elections in Madagascar. Local media reported that the official notice, published in the country’s gazette and widely circulated online, stated that the revocation was due to Rajoelina having acquired French citizenship in 2014. French broadcaster RFI confirmed the decree with officials close to the new Prime Minister, Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo, who signed the order.
Under Malagasy law, citizens who voluntarily obtain a foreign nationality automatically lose their Malagasy nationality. The revelation of Rajoelina’s French citizenship nearly a decade ago, ahead of the November 2023 elections, had sparked controversy. At the time, there were demands for him to be disqualified from the polls, yet he went on to win the disputed election, which was boycotted by opposition parties.
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Rajoelina, 51, fled Madagascar after a major security shift on October 11, when army Colonel Michael Randrianirina announced that his CAPSAT unit would refuse to suppress a youth-led protest movement. Following this, Rajoelina stated that he was in hiding for his own safety, though he did not disclose his location. On October 14, Randrianirina was sworn in as Madagascar’s new president, promising that national elections would be held within two years.
