BREAKING: African Union Suspends Madagascar After Military Coup Leader Declares Himself President

The African Union (AU) has announced the immediate suspension of Madagascar following a military coup that saw the island nation’s army chief, General Alain Rakotoarisoa, declare himself president.

In a statement released on Thursday, the AU Peace and Security Council condemned the takeover as an “unconstitutional change of government,” stressing that the bloc has “zero tolerance” for military seizures of power in Africa.

“The African Union strongly condemns the coup d’état in Madagascar and hereby suspends the country from all AU activities until constitutional order is restored,” the statement read.

General Rakotoarisoa, in a televised address late Wednesday, said he had assumed control of the government to “save the nation from political chaos and corruption.” He claimed the military acted after months of protests and a deepening economic crisis under President Andry Rajoelina’s administration.

The now-deposed president’s whereabouts remain unclear, though unconfirmed reports suggest he may have sought refuge at a foreign embassy in Antananarivo, the capital.

International reactions have been swift. The United Nations, the European Union, and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have all condemned the coup, urging the immediate restoration of civilian rule.

Analysts fear the latest political upheaval could plunge Madagascar—already battling widespread poverty, drought, and food insecurity—into further instability.

The AU said it will send a fact-finding mission to Madagascar in the coming days and warned that sanctions may follow if the junta fails to initiate dialogue toward a democratic transition.

This marks the second time in less than two decades that Madagascar has been suspended from the African Union due to a coup. The island nation faced similar sanctions after a 2009 military-backed ouster of then-President Marc Ravalomanana.