ANDRY RAJOELINA

Andry Rajoelina was born on May 30, 1974, in Antsirabe to a relatively affluent family. His father, Colonel Roger Yves Rajoelina, a retired military officer, had dual nationality and served in the French army during the Algerian War. Although his family could afford a college education, Rajoelina chose to leave school after completing his baccalauréat to pursue a career as a DJ.

In 1994, he met Mialy Razakandisa, who was finishing high school in Antananarivo. They maintained a long-distance relationship for six years while she completed her studies in finance and accounting in Paris. They reunited in Madagascar in 2000 and married the same year, eventually having two sons, Arena and Ilonstoa, and a daughter named Ilona.

Rajoelina began his entrepreneurial journey at 19 with his first business, Show Business, and later launched a successful digital printing company, Injet, in 1999. In 2000, he expanded his portfolio by acquiring Domapub, another advertising firm. His media interests grew when he purchased Ravinala TV and radio stations in 2007, rebranding them as Viva TV and Viva FM. That same year, he founded the political group Tanora malaGasy Vonona (TGV) and was elected mayor of Antananarivo, winning 63.3% of the vote.

Conflicts with President Marc Ravalomanana emerged in 2003 over advertising disputes. By late 2008, following controversial land deals and the purchase of a presidential jet, Rajoelina organized opposition to Ravalomanana's government. Tensions escalated when the government shut down his media outlet after it aired an interview with exiled former president Didier Ratsiraka. Rajoelina mobilized public support, establishing a political space called "Democracy Plaza" and leading mass protests, asserting his authority over national affairs.

On February 3, 2009, he was dismissed from his mayoral position, marking a turning point in Madagascar's political crisis. In early 2009, Rajoelina proclaimed himself president of a new High Transitional Authority. This declaration led to protests and violent clashes at the presidential palace, resulting in the deaths of 31 demonstrators. The situation eroded public support for Ravalomanana, who subsequently resigned and transferred power to the military, which then appointed Rajoelina as president. This transition was widely condemned as a coup by the international community, leading to sanctions and a freeze on aid from organizations such as the African Union and the International Monetary Fund.

During his presidency, Rajoelina dissolved the Senate and Parliament, consolidating power within his cabinet and military committee. He reversed some of Ravalomanana's unpopular decisions, pursued legal actions against him, and rolled back certain reforms, including those related to education. Facing international isolation and suspended aid, he launched initiatives aimed at supporting citizens, such as subsidized housing and essential goods distribution. He also initiated infrastructure projects, including the restoration of Antananarivo's town hall and the construction of new facilities in Toamasina.

In 2011, Rajoelina managed to regain some diplomatic support, but political tensions persisted. An agreement eventually emerged, excluding both Rajoelina and Ravalomanana from participating in the subsequent elections, leading to Hery Rajaonarimampianina's presidency in 2014. Rajoelina stepped down shortly after.

Rajoelina registered for the 2018 presidential election, promoting his Initiative for the Emergence of Madagascar, with a campaign focused on closing the Senate, boosting agriculture, enhancing security, and increasing electricity access. He emerged victorious in the election and was inaugurated in January 2019.

In April 2020, he launched "Covid-Organics," an untested herbal remedy for COVID-19, which faced skepticism from the World Health Organization and Madagascar's medical community. During the same month, a journalist was detained for criticizing his pandemic response but was later released. At COP26, Rajoelina committed to combating deforestation and promoting alternative energy to safeguard Madagascar's biodiversity. In 2021, a severe drought prompted him to implement measures such as distributing gas stoves to alleviate hunger. That year, he survived an assassination attempt, leading to multiple arrests.

In 2023, Rajoelina faced scrutiny regarding his alleged French nationality, which could have disqualified him from holding the presidency, but the Constitutional Court ruled in his favor. His Director of Cabinet was also arrested for corruption in London. On December 16, 2023, Rajoelina took the oath of office for his second term as president amid a boycott by opposition parties challenging the election results from November 16.

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andry_Rajoelina