Madagascar transition leader targets July 2027 for elections

Madagascar's transitional leader, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, has announced that the country's current transition period, known as the 'Refoundation of the Republic of Madagascar', is projected to conclude with elections starting in July 2027.

Following a meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the 46th SADC Summit in Durban, Randrianirina stated that the institutions are prepared to hold the vote without extending the transition period. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has expressed readiness to support the process without conditioning aid on specific political agreements.

Thierry Rakotonarivo, president of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), confirmed the timeline, noting that the electoral list revision is expected to be completed by April 2027. Ongoing political consultations aim to refine the electoral system, legal framework, and organizational methods to ensure the July 2027 deadline is met.