At his inauguration as interim president five days later Colonel Michael Randrianirina acknowledged the bravery of the Gen Z protestors who had taken to the streets at the end of September calling for Rajoelina's removal (Dispatches 20/10/25 Gen Z's military man Randrianirina takes the oath & 6/10/25 Rajoelina is ‘ready to listen' as opposition calls for his exit)...

Colonel Michael Randrianirina's rapid rise from a senior military officer to the presidency of Madagascar owes much to luck and Gen Z...