Madagascar: A Triumvirate to head the Transition Government

On 7 November, Malagasy political actors agreed to a collegial leadership structure for the transition government, where President Andy Rajoelina shares executive power with two co-presidents from the camps of former Presidents Marc Ravalomanana and Albert Zafy. The agreement requires all three leaders to approve and sign major decisions. The author expresses skepticism about the stability of this 'triumvirate' model, citing a failed historical precedent in Benin and ongoing tensions over strategic ministerial portfolios such as Defense, Finance, and Foreign Affairs. The briefing notes that SADC pressure and the need for credible elections by the end of 2010 are central to the process, while the long-term stability of Madagascar depends on the shifting power dynamics between Rajoelina and Ravalomanana.

• Political protagonists in Madagascar agreed on 7 November to a collegial leadership for the transition government, meaning President Andy Rajoelina will share executive powers with two co-presidents representing the camps of former Presidents Marc Ravalomanana and Albert Zafy.
• While there is no explicit division of authority among the three presidents, the agreement stipulates that all major decisions must be approved and signed by all three members to ensure equal authority in theory.
• The author questions the viability of the triumvirate solution, noting that a similar structure implemented in Benin in May 1970 failed after five months, eventually leading to a coup by Lt Colonel Mathieu Kerekou in October 1972.
• Despite the agreement on leadership, tensions are expected to persist over the appointment of strategic government portfolios, specifically Foreign Affairs, Finance, and Defense.
• The Southern African Development Community (SADC) influenced the resolution by denying Rajoelina a platform at the UN General Assembly in September and insisting on a consensual resolution.

APA

Zounmenou, D. (n.d.). Madagascar: A Triumvirate to head the Transition Government. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/madagascar-a-triumvirate-to-head-the-transition-government

Chicago

Zounmenou, David. Madagascar: A Triumvirate to head the Transition Government. Institute for Security Studies, n.d. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/madagascar-a-triumvirate-to-head-the-transition-government.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Zounmenou |first1=David |title=Madagascar: A Triumvirate to head the Transition Government |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |url=https://issafrica.org/iss-today/madagascar-a-triumvirate-to-head-the-transition-government |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{zounmenoundmadagascar, author = {Zounmenou, David}, title = {{Madagascar: A Triumvirate to head the Transition Government}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.org/iss-today/madagascar-a-triumvirate-to-head-the-transition-government}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }