In a twist that sounds straight out of a political thriller, Madagascar’s recently ousted president, Andry Rajoelina, has now been stripped of his Malagasy citizenship — a move that cements his stunning downfall and sends shockwaves through the island nation’s political scene.
The official decree, published late on October 24, 2025, cites that Rajoelina voluntarily acquired French nationality in 2014, an act that automatically voids his Malagasy citizenship under the country’s nationality laws.
The legal clause is straightforward: no dual allegiance. But in the heated political climate of post-coup Madagascar, many are asking whether this was law — or politics — in motion.
Just weeks ago, Rajoelina was toppled in a military-backed takeover after months of public outrage over power cuts, water shortages, and corruption scandals.
Now, the same state that forced him out has erased his national identity altogether.
The transitional government, led by Michael Randrianirina and Prime Minister Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo, insists the move was purely legal.
Yet to Rajoelina’s supporters, it feels like a calculated humiliation — a way to bar him from ever reclaiming power.
For a man once hailed as Madagascar’s youthful reformer, this is a harsh epilogue.
From mayor to DJ to president, Rajoelina’s rise was meteoric.
His fall, however, has been spectacularly steep.
With his Malagasy nationality revoked, he’s now politically exiled on paper — and symbolically exiled from the country he once ruled.
Still, one thing is certain: Madagascar’s political saga is far from over.
In a nation with a history of coups, comebacks, and constitutional crises, Rajoelina’s citizenship drama might just be the opening act of another turbulent chapter.