Andry Rajoelina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Andry Rajoelina
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Rajoelina in 2024
|
|
| 7th President of Madagascar | |
| Assumed office 16 December 2023 |
|
| Prime Minister | Christian Ntsay |
| Preceded by | Richard Ravalomanana (acting) |
| In office 19 January 2019 – 9 September 2023 |
|
| Prime Minister | Christian Ntsay |
| Preceded by | Rivo Rakotovao (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Christian Ntsay (acting) |
| In office 17 March 2009 – 25 January 2014 as President of the High Transitional Authority of Madagascar |
|
| Prime Minister |
See list
|
| Preceded by | Hyppolite Ramaroson (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Hery Rajaonarimampianina |
| 51st Mayor of Antananarivo | |
| In office 12 December 2007 – 3 February 2009 |
|
| Preceded by | Hery Rafalimanana |
| Succeeded by | Guy Randrianarisoa (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Andry Nirina Rajoelina
30 May 1974 Antsirabe, Malagasy Republic |
| Nationality | Malagasy French (since 2014) |
| Political party | Young Malagasies Determined |
| Spouse |
Mialy Razakandisa
(m. 2000) |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Iavoloha Palace |
Andry Nirina Rajoelina (born 30 May 1974) is a politician and businessman from Madagascar. He has been the President of Madagascar since 2019. Before that, he led a temporary government from 2009 to 2014. He was also the Mayor of Antananarivo, the capital city, for one year. Before entering politics, Rajoelina worked in the private sector. He owned a printing and advertising company called Injet and also the Viva radio and television networks.
He started a political party called Young Malagasies Determined. In 2007, he was elected Mayor of Antananarivo. While mayor, he led a movement against the president at the time, Marc Ravalomanana. This led to a political crisis in 2009. A military group then made Rajoelina the President of the High Transitional Authority of Madagascar (HTA). Many countries called this a coup d'état, which means taking power by force. Rajoelina changed how the government worked during this time. Voters approved a new constitution in 2010, which started the Fourth Republic.
He remained president of the HTA until new elections were held in 2013. He stepped down in 2014. He won the 2018 presidential election and became President of Madagascar on 19 January 2019. During his time as president, he managed the country's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Madagascar. He also dealt with a food shortage and a strong storm called Cyclone Batsirai. Rajoelina won the 2023 Malagasy presidential election again.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Andry Rajoelina was born on 30 May 1974 in Antsirabe. His family was quite well-off. His father, Roger Yves Rajoelina, was a retired Colonel who fought for the French army. Even though his family could pay for college, Andry decided to stop his studies after high school. He wanted to start a career as a DJ.
In 1994, Rajoelina met Mialy Razakandisa, who would become his wife. They kept in touch for six years while Mialy studied in Paris. They got married in Madagascar in 2000. They have three children: two sons, Arena (born 2001) and Ilontsoa (born 2003), and a daughter, Ilona (born 2005).
Starting a Media Business
In 1993, when he was 19, Rajoelina started his first company. It was a small event planning business called Show Business. The next year, he started an annual concert called Live. This event brought together both foreign and Malagasy musicians. On its tenth anniversary, 50,000 people attended the concert.
In 1999, he launched Injet. This was the first company on the island to use digital printing technology. It quickly became popular by putting up many billboards in the capital city. After he got married in 2000, Andry and Mialy Rajoelina bought Domapub. This was another advertising business in Antananarivo owned by Mialy's family. The couple worked together to manage their family businesses. Andry took care of Injet, and Mialy managed Domapub.
In May 2007, Andry Rajoelina bought the Ravinala television and radio stations. He then changed their names to Viva TV and Viva FM.
Becoming Mayor of Antananarivo
Election as Mayor
In 2007, Rajoelina created a political group called Tanora malaGasy Vonona (TGV). This means "determined Malagasy youth." Soon after, he announced he would run for Mayor of Antananarivo. His young age helped him become popular quickly across the country. People saw him as a symbol of new ideas and change in politics. Rajoelina won the election on 12 December 2007. He received 63.3% of the votes.
Leading Opposition Against the President
The first disagreements between Andry Rajoelina and President Marc Ravalomanana happened in 2003. The government ordered Rajoelina to remove some advertising panels he had put up in the capital.
In late 2008, the government faced two problems. One was a deal with Daewoo Logistics to rent half of Madagascar's farmland. The other was buying a second presidential jet for $60 million. These issues made the World Bank and the IMF stop giving financial help to Madagascar. Rajoelina used these problems to gain support against President Ravalomanana.
When Rajoelina first became mayor, Antananarivo's city treasury owed about $4.6 million. In January 2008, the city had its water and streetlights turned off because of unpaid bills to the Jirama company. After checking, it was found that Jirama also owed money to the city. So, the services were restored.
On 13 December 2008, the government closed Andry Rajoelina's Viva TV. They said an interview on Viva with a former leader could cause trouble. Within a week, Rajoelina met with 20 important opposition leaders. They demanded that the Ravalomanana government follow democratic rules better. Rajoelina also promised to create a public space in the capital called Place de la Démocratie (Democracy Plaza).
In January 2009, Andry Rajoelina started leading political rallies in Antananarivo. On 13 January, he told the government to bring back Viva TV. A week later, the channel showed a picture of Rajoelina, and authorities seized its transmitter. On 17 January, Rajoelina gathered 30,000 supporters at a park he renamed Place de la Démocratie. He challenged President Ravalomanana's power. At a rally on 31 January 2009, Rajoelina announced he was taking charge of the country. He said: "Since the president and the government have not done their jobs, I declare that I will run all national affairs starting today." He also said he would ask the president to resign. However, this statement made some people doubt his democratic goals, and fewer people attended his later rallies.
Removal from Office
On 3 February, the government removed Rajoelina as mayor of Antananarivo. They appointed a special group to manage the city instead. Andry Rajoelina disagreed with this decision.
Leading the Transitional Government (2009–2014)
President Ravalomanana Resigns
On 7 February, Andry Rajoelina held another rally. During this event, his supporters announced the creation of a High Transitional Authority. They named Andry Rajoelina as its president. The crowd then marched towards the Presidential palace. The presidential guards opened fire, killing 31 protesters and injuring over 200. This event greatly reduced the president's popularity. It also made the Army stop supporting him, as they blamed him for the shooting.
On 6 March, Andry Rajoelina sought safety in the French embassy after authorities tried to arrest him. On 10 March, the Army gave political leaders 72 hours to find a solution to the crisis. If not, the military would step in. On 15 March, President Ravalomanana suggested a public vote to solve the crisis. Rajoelina refused and called for the president's arrest. The next day, Ravalomanana resigned and gave his power to a senior Army committee. On 18 March, the Army directly gave power to Rajoelina, making him president of the High Transitional Authority (HAT). Madagascar's highest court said this transfer of power was legal.
Rajoelina was sworn in as President on 21 March 2009 at Mahamasina stadium. About 40,000 supporters were there. He was 35 years old, making him the youngest president in Madagascar's history at that time.
Solving the Political Conflict
Many international groups did not recognize the new government. The African Union called the events a coup d'état. They suspended Madagascar and threatened to punish the country if the old government was not restored. The United States, a major helper to Madagascar, also did not recognize Rajoelina's government. Madagascar was removed from a trade program called AGOA. The IMF also stopped its aid to Madagascar. The UN froze 600 million euros in planned aid.
In August 2009, the former presidents of Madagascar, including Rajoelina and Ravalomanana, signed an agreement. This agreement set rules for a peaceful political change. In November 2010, a new constitution was approved by voters. This constitution lowered the minimum age for presidential candidates to 35. This made the 36-year-old Rajoelina eligible to run for president. The new constitution also said that the leader of the High Transitional Authority would be the interim president until an election. It also required candidates to have lived in Madagascar for at least six months before elections. This prevented Ravalomanana and other opposition leaders living outside the country from running.
In June 2010, the EU announced it would continue its $600-million financial aid to Madagascar. In November 2011, Rajoelina spoke at the UN, which was a big step towards international recognition for his government. He also met with French officials.
In January 2013, Rajoelina, Ravalomanana, and other Malagasy leaders agreed to solve the political crisis. They agreed that neither Rajoelina nor Ravalomanana would run in the election planned for May. However, in May 2013, Ravalomanana's wife announced she would run. Rajoelina saw this as breaking the agreement and decided to run himself. This caused the election to be delayed several times. A special court later ruled that Rajoelina, Ravalomanana, and another former president could not run in the 2013 election. Andry Rajoelina then supported Hery Rajaonarimampianina, who won the election in December 2013. Andry Rajoelina officially stepped down as president on 25 January 2014.
Policies and Governance
When Rajoelina took office in 2009, he closed the Senate and Parliament. He gave their powers to his cabinet and other officials. He also created a new council to help with social and economic issues. His policies were issued as official orders. He and his closest advisors made most of the laws. A military committee was also set up to control security and defense. The Transitional government also gained more control over local governments.
One of Rajoelina's first actions was to cancel Ravalomanana's unpopular deal with Daewoo Logistics. On 2 June 2009, Ravalomanana was fined $70 million and sentenced to four years in prison. This was for alleged misuse of his position, including buying a $60 million presidential jet. Rajoelina also took legal action against Ravalomanana's company to get back $35 million in unpaid taxes. On 28 August 2010, the HAT sentenced Ravalomanana, who was living outside the country, to hard labor for life. They issued an arrest warrant for his role in the protests and deaths. Rajoelina also rejected Ravalomanana's development plan and changed education reforms. He brought back the traditional use of French in schools. In 2012, he sold the controversial Boeing 747 jet that his predecessor had bought with public money.
Punishments and the stopping of aid from other countries affected Madagascar's budget. This made it hard for the government to manage the country. Rajoelina sometimes organized events to give basic items to people. These included medicines, clothes, and school supplies. His government spent a lot of money to help pay for basic needs like electricity, fuel, and food. In 2010, the HAT finished rebuilding the town hall of Antananarivo. It had been destroyed during protests in 1972. During this event, Andry Rajoelina announced that 11 December would be a new holiday. The country's fourth constitution was also put into effect.
Through a program called trano mora ("affordable house"), the HAT built many low-cost homes. These were for young middle-class couples. Many other building projects were planned or finished. These included fixing old staircases in Antananarivo and repaving a busy road. They also built a large stadium and a new town hall in Toamasina. A hospital that met international standards was also built in Toamasina.
2018 Presidential Campaign
In August 2018, Andry Rajoelina was the first to sign up to run for the 2018 presidential elections. He had introduced a plan called the Initiative for the Emergence of Madagascar (IEM). This plan outlined his campaign goals. One promise was to close the Senate to save money and build universities instead. He also aimed to provide more electricity, help the country grow enough food for itself, and improve safety.
The campaign began in October 2018. Andry Rajoelina faced former presidents Ravalomanana and Rajaonarimampianina, who were also strong candidates. There were 46 candidates in total. In the first round of elections on 7 November, he received the most votes, with 39.19%. A TV debate between Rajoelina and Ravalomanana was shown live on 10 December.
Rajoelina won the election with 55.66% of the votes. He became president on 19 January 2019.
First Elected Term (2019–2023)
.jpg)
Handling the COVID-19 Pandemic
In April and May 2020, President Rajoelina received international attention. He launched an untested "cure" for COVID-19 called "Covid-Organics". This herbal tea was made by the Madagascar Institute of Applied Research (MIAR). It used artemisia and other local herbs. The military gave out "Covid-Organics" to the public. Drinking the herbal tea was made mandatory in schools. Several African countries bought the herbal tea. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) said there was no proof that this cure worked. It had not gone through proper tests. The National Academy of Medicine of Madagascar was also doubtful.
Environmental Efforts
Rajoelina has said that climate change is causing food shortages in parts of his country. He has asked powerful nations to help fight it.
At a meeting in Glasgow, Rajoelina promised to protect Madagascar's forests from deforestation. He also announced that Madagascar would use bioethanol and gas stoves. These efforts aim to fight the effects of climate change. Rajoelina also pledged more money to protect Madagascar's unique plants and animals.
Addressing Food Shortages
In June 2021, a severe dry spell hit Madagascar. This caused hundreds of thousands of people to suffer from food shortages in the southern parts of the country. Rajoelina announced a plan with the US ambassador to fight hunger. Among other actions, Rajoelina ordered the distribution of butane gas stoves. These were meant to replace charcoal for people in the poorest areas. This effort reached 15,000 households.
French Nationality Discussion
In July 2023, a political opponent claimed that Rajoelina had become a French citizen. This raised questions about whether he could still be a Malagasy citizen. Under Malagasy law, a person might lose their citizenship if they willingly become a citizen of another country. Only Malagasy citizens can be president. Rajoelina argued that he automatically became French through his father. He said this meant he did not lose his Malagasy citizenship. The Constitutional Court agreed with him. They noted there was no official order taking away his Malagasy nationality.
Second Elected Term (2023–Present)
Rajoelina took his oath of office on 16 December 2023. This was for his second term as president of Madagascar. Opposition parties did not attend. They had challenged the results of the 16 November election. In May 2025, Andry Rajoelina said he still planned to visit the Scattered Islands. These are French islands near Malagasy waters. He prefers to talk to solve this long-standing disagreement.
Awards and Recognition
National Awards
Grand Cordon of the National Order of Madagascar (2019)
Grand Cross 1st Class of the National Order of Madagascar (2009)
Other Awards
- 2000: Entrepreneur of the Year by Écho Australe magazine.
- 2003: Best young entrepreneur in Madagascar by French bank BNI Crédit Lyonnais.
See also
In Spanish: Andry Rajoelina para niños
