A major political crisis is unfolding in Madagascar after a group of mutinying soldiers installed a new army chief, challenging the authority of President Andry Rajoelina.
On Sunday, October 12, 2025, the country’s Minister of Armed Forces, Manantsoa Deramasinjaka Rakotoarivelo, officially recognised General Demosthene Pikulas as the new Chief of Army Staff during a ceremony at army headquarters in Antananarivo.
Pikulas was chosen by the CAPSAT military unit, which recently joined the youth-led protests calling for President Rajoelina’s resignation.
“I give him my blessing,” the minister said, endorsing the appointment of Pikulas, who was backed by the mutinying soldiers.
The president, however, denounced the move as “an attempt to seize power illegally,” accusing the dissenting soldiers of undermining constitutional order.
Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, General Pikulas described the recent developments as “unpredictable” but pledged to restore peace and stability across the island nation.
He declined to comment directly on calls for Rajoelina’s resignation, saying, “I refuse to discuss politics within a military facility.”
The crisis began on September 25, 2025, when widespread youth-led demonstrations erupted across Madagascar. Protesters accused the government of corruption, mismanagement, and failing to address economic hardship.
The unrest intensified after Rajoelina dissolved his cabinet last week in a bid to calm tensions and appointed Rakotoarivelo as the new armed forces minister.
Despite the president’s efforts, the CAPSAT unit, led by Colonel Michael Randrianirina, sided with the protesters. Randrianirina insisted that their action was not a coup d’état.
“We answered the people’s call, but it wasn’t a coup,” he said. “The situation may look chaotic, but the chaos was caused by the leadership, not the army.”
As demonstrations continue in several cities, including Antsiranana and the capital Antananarivo, calls for a general strike are growing louder. Observers fear the situation could spiral into deeper instability if dialogue is not restored between the government, the army, and protest leaders.
