Description: Following the latest rounds of protests in the country, the military government in Madagascar has reiterated towards previous authoritarian methods of ruling in the country. Protesters were uprising against the stalled reforms primarily in appointing a civilian government to rule the country as well as the expected corruption investigation by the current military government. The military in Madagascar staged a coup in Oct 2025 alongside the Gen Z Mada movement, ousting former president Andry Rajoelina while promising reforms and return to stability. Before the ouster of Rajoelina, Madagascar was labeled as one of the poorest countries on the planet with rampant corruption and locked economic potential. Madagascar’s president, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, visited Moscow in Feb, where he met with President Vladimir Putin after having received a significant donation of military equipment and personal protection detail comprised of Russian private military contractors.
Impact: Madagascar’s renewed civil uprising, although currently low – scale, could potentially challenge the military’s rule which has formed close ties with Russia and refused to hand over governance responsibilities to a civilian body. Russia likely exploited the crisis last year to assert itself as a major partner and supporter of the current military government through equipment donations and a direct leaders meeting which likely indicates foreign interference which may or may not have been present during the civil unrest in the country last Oct. The military government is unlikely to relinquish its position by transferring government powers to a civilian body which would likely lead to more protests in the country. The narrative from current government officials is dismissive which likely indicates that the current low – scale protests could be a prologue towards renewed civil crisis in Madagascar.