Madagascar’s newly inaugurated president, Army Colonel Michael Randrianirina, has appointed Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo as the country’s civilian prime minister, signaling a shift toward a civilian-led government following a military takeover last week. The move comes after weeks of escalating protests against former President Andry Rajoelina, who was impeached for desertion of duty and subsequently fled the country. Randrianirina, who assumed office on Friday, emphasized his commitment to constitutional adherence and collaboration with all sectors of the nation. Rajaonarivelo, a prominent figure in the private sector and former chairman of the Malagasy bank BNI, was chosen for his expertise and international connections, which are expected to bolster Madagascar’s global partnerships. Randrianirina also pledged sweeping reforms and new elections in the poverty-stricken nation, where chronic power outages had fueled public discontent. The military’s intervention, led by Randrianirina’s CAPSAT unit, marked a turning point in the uprising, as it condemned the violence against protesters by Rajoelina’s security forces. Rajoelina’s supporters have criticized the transition, despite its endorsement by the constitutional court. Reports indicate that the ousted leader was evacuated to Dubai via a French military plane.