Madagascar coup a betrayal to governance – Nandi-Ndaitwah

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has described the recent military coup in Madagascar as a betrayal of stable governance principles.

She says this in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Madagascar’s president, Andry Rajoelina, who took over the reins in 2019, reportedly went into hiding after being warned about an imminent coup.

On Tuesday, BBC reported that the military had taken full control.

Nandi-Ndaitwah says the heads of state and governance of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) convened in Antananarivo for the 45th Ordinary Summit in August, where leaders pledged to deepen economic integration, boost industrialisation, transform agriculture, accelerate energy
transition and improve the livelihoods of citizens.

“It is regrettable that these recent events appear to betray the very principles we reaffirmed only months ago. Any attempt to assume power through unconstitutional means runs counter to the values and obligations that bind SADC member states,” she says.

The president says such actions risk undermining the integrity of regional commitments, eroding public trust and endangering the peace and stability that are foundational to Africa’s collective progress.

Following Rajoelina’s election as the chairperson of the SADC from August, Madagascar holds a position of leadership and moral stewardship in the region, Nandi-Ndaitwah says.

“We strongly condemn any attempt to subvert constitutional order. We call upon the security services to exercise restraint, to adhere strictly to the rule of law and to facilitate a return to democratic order through peaceful, inclusive dialogue,” she says.

The president urges all regional and continental bodies to support mediation efforts to ensure promises made at the August summit are honoured and not undermined.

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