Madagascar's New Military Leader Aims for BRICS Membership

This objective is not only consistent with Junta states in Africa, but also with the trend prevalent in Madagascar’s new military administration. As reported in December, Madagascar's military government received weapons from Russia. National Assembly Speaker Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko made the revelation via a statement on December 20, noting that a Russian air force aircraft with forty military troops and forty-three crates of weaponry touched down at the international airport close to Antananarivo, the capital. ADVERTISEMENT Currently, Michael Randrianirina, the ninth President of Madagascar, who took over the country after an uprising in October 2025, spoke about joining BRICS with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria last week. "Cyril Ramaphosa also paved the way for Madagascar's participation in the next BRICS summit, which will be held in India in June. This summit will be a key step in the process of officially recognizing Madagascar as a partner country," Randrianirina told the media, as reported by Sputnik. The approval of every member of the BRICS group is necessary for a nation to be admitted as a partner. As presently constituted, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa are core members of the bloc, as well as the founding members. Other members include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. ADVERTISEMENT Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Nigeria, and Vietnam serve as BRICS partners. Madagascar's Coup Madagascar's change from democracy to military rule began on September 25 with local protests about power and water shortages, quickly escalating into a nationwide revolt. Thousands of GEN Z protestors marched through the streets, condemning corruption, rising poverty, and decades of governmental incompetence. ADVERTISEMENT The demonstrations were part of a global surge of youth-led movements, including those in Nepal, where the prime minister resigned, and Morocco, where young people have protested unemployment and injustice. The protests, which had intensified over a couple of weeks, reached a point where France had to airlift Madagascar’s former President Andry Rajoelina out of the island nation. The son of a wealthy colonel, Andry Rajoelina went into the media business before embarking on the path that would see him become Madagascar's president.From 1999, Rajoelina ran a music festival called "Live," which grew to host massive audiences of 50,000 by its 10th anniversary, according to francophone political journal Politique Africaine.Rajoelina also bought up TV channels, a radio station and a digital printing outfit, it said. It was in those ritzy settings that Rajoelina was able to rub shoulders with his future political partners and rivals, the outlet reported.By 2007, he was mayor of Antananarivo, the republic's capital, and was later installed as head of a provisional national government in what was widely described as a coup, according to the BBC.Rajoelina was elected to the presidency in 2018, during which he presided over the dubious launch of an unproven COVID-19 treatment in the form of a tea called Covid-Organics. Business Insider USA In a late-night address disseminated across the presidency's social media platforms, Rajoelina confirmed his departure, citing threats to his personal safety.