ANTANANARIVO — The transitional government of Andry Rajoelina announced on Friday that it has revoked his Malagasy nationality by decree, following his ouster earlier this month. The official Gazette published a document signed by Prime Minister Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo that states Rajoelina lost citizenship because he acquired French nationality in 2014, triggering automatic revocation under Malagasy law.
The move comes just ten days after the military takeover that removed Rajoelina from power. Parliament voted to impeach him on October 14, following weeks of youth-led protests and a defection of the elite CAPSAT military unit. According to the decree, Rajoelina’s acquisition of another nationality meant he had “voluntarily” renounced Malagasy nationality under Article 42 of the Nationality Code.
By stripping Rajoelina of his citizenship, the transitional authorities rendered him ineligible to stand in any future elections, a legal mechanism that appears designed to block his return to political power.
The action has sparked deeper constitutional debate about the legality of revoking nationality via executive decree in the absence of prior court ruling or individual right of appeal. Legal commentators observe that while the law provides for automatic loss, it also requires formal publication and procedural safeguards.
Internationally, the move is being watched as part of preparation for the election transition promised by the military-backed interim government, which has pledged to hold new elections within 18–24 months. Supporters of Rajoelina are already signalling pushback, suggesting the revocation is politically motivated.
The transitional leadership says this measure is one among several to restore legality and credibility to Malagasy governance, following what it termed a departure from democratic norms under Rajoelina’s presidency.
