• Madagascar unveils 29-member cabinet after military-led transition
• Protests over shortages ousted president; AU suspends Madagascar
• Economic outlook worsens; S&P cuts growth forecast to 3%
  

Madagascar’s transitional president, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, officially announced the members of his new cabinet in a presidential decree on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, just days after taking office.

Prime Minister Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo will lead the 29-member team, which includes ten women and nineteen men. The Security and Defense posts went to military officers, while civilians were named to all other ministries.

The new government’s mandate is to implement the “national renewal policy” announced by the transitional president, focusing on tackling social emergencies and reviving key economic sectors.

The cabinet was formed amid a transition triggered by a military takeover on Oct. 14, following weeks of protests led by the “Gen Z” youth movement. The demonstrations, sparked by water and electricity shortages and worsening living conditions, culminated in the ouster of President Andry Rajoelina, accused of “abandoning his post” after fleeing the country.

In response, the African Union suspended Madagascar from the organization and urged a swift return to constitutional order. The United Nations and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) also called for inclusive dialogue among all parties.

The political turmoil has already taken an economic toll. S&P Global Ratings placed Madagascar’s B-/B sovereign credit rating on negative watch, saying the instability threatens growth and fiscal discipline. The agency cut its 2025-2026 growth forecast to 3%, from 4.1% previously.

Ingrid Haffiny