Pretoria – President Cyril Ramaphosa hosted Colonel Michael Randrianirina, President of the Refoundation of the Republic of Madagascar, for a briefing at Mahlamba Ndlopfu, the Official Residence in Pretoria.
On Friday, 16 January 2026, Colonel Randrianirina briefed President Ramaphosa on the steps being taken towards a peaceful transitional process, which includes a national dialogue among all the people of Madagascar.
“President Ramaphosa welcomed the briefing and, in line with the decision of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), took the opportunity to reiterate the need to support Madagascar’s transition to constitutional democracy with an inclusive national dialogue that will lead to elections as soon as possible,” said Vincent Magwenya, spokesperson to President Ramaphosa.
“In this regard, President Ramaphosa reaffirmed SADC’s decision to deploy the Panel of the Elders to Madagascar.”
Madagascar remains under military-led transition following the dramatic ouster of former President Andry Rajoelina in October 2025.
Weeks of intense youth-led protests over chronic power and water shortages, corruption, and economic hardship escalated when the elite CAPSAT military unit defected to join demonstrators.
Rajoelina fled the country amid the unrest, prompting Parliament to impeach him for abandonment of duty.
Colonel Randrianirina, CAPSAT commander, seized power on 14 October 2025 and was sworn in as transitional president three days later by the High Constitutional Court.
