The new government of Madagascar stripped the deposed president Andy Rajoelina of his Malagasy nationality through a decree published on Friday, local media reported, ten days after a military coup that forced him to flee the country.
The overthrow of Rajoelinawho left the East African island nation without revealing where, It came after a protest movement started by young people on September 25 over the lack of water and electricity.
The decision means that Rajoelina will not be able to run in future elections.
The decree, published in the official gazette, establishes that Rajoelina’s Malagasy nationality is revoked because she acquired that of France in 2014, according to the press, which shared photographs of the document on the internet.
The French network RFI assured that it was able to confirm the issuance of the document with the new prime minister’s entourage, Herintsalama Rajaonarivelowho signed the order.
The decree cites laws that stipulate that a Malagasy who voluntarily acquires a foreign nationality loses his status as a citizen of the country.
The french nationality of Rajoelina caused a scandal when it was revealed before the November 2023 elections, almost 10 years after it was granted.
The 51-year-old politician fled Madagascar after the army colonel Michael Randrianirin said on October 11 that his CAPSAT military unit would refuse to carry out orders to suppress the protest movement.
Randrianirina was sworn in as president on October 14, promising elections within two years.
