Military seizes state power

ARMY colonel Michael Randrianirina was sworn in as Madagascar’s president on Friday, just days after a military power grab that sent ex-president Andry Rajoelina fleeing and raised international alarm about a new coup on the island.

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Randrianirina led the CAPSAT army unit, which mutinied and joined anti-government protesters before announcing Tuesday that the military had taken power, after Rajoelina was impeached for desertion of duty.

“Today marks a historic turning point for our country,” Randrianirina said after his swearing-in ceremony, where the 51-year-old colonel swopped his army uniform for a suit. He vowed sweeping reforms for the impoverished island nation, where anger over chronic power cuts sparked protests last month that soon escalated into a mass movement.

“We will work in hand with all the driving forces of the nation to draft a fine constitution... and to agree on new electoral laws for the organi-sation of elections and referendums,” Randrianirina said. “Our main mission is to thoroughly reform the country’s administrative, socioeconomic and political systems of governance.”