The army in Madagascar has seized control of the government following a parliamentary vote to remove the President, Andry Rajoelina, who has also fled the country.

Al Jazeera reports that a military colonel, Michael Randrianirina, announced the takeover on Tuesday, standing in front of the ceremonial presidential palace in the country’s capital, Antananarivo.

“We have taken the power,” Mr Randrianirina was quoted to have said.

The colonel also disclosed that the military was dissolving all institutions, except the lower house of parliament, and that it would form a council composed of officers from the army and the gendarmerie.

The constitution and the powers of the High Constitutional Court have been suspended.

Mr Randrianirina said a referendum would be held in two years, although the details remain unclear.

He said the prime minister would also be appointed to carry out the transition to a civilian government.

Mr Rajoelina had fled the country on Sunday after units of the army defected from the government to side with Gen Z protesters demanding his resignation.

The protest in the former French colony began on 25 September over water and power shortages.

It, however, escalated into a protest over broader grievances, such as corruption, poor governance, and a lack of basic services.

On Monday, thousands of people gathered in a square in the capital, shouting “the president must quit now”.

The protest is similar to recent demonstrations in other countries, like Nepal, where the prime minister had to resign last month.

Mr Rajoelina had flown out of the country on a French military aircraft and had struck a deal with President Emmanuel Macron, Reuters reports.

Mr Rajoelina has been the president of Madagascar since 2023. Before that, he also served as president from 2019 to 2023, and earlier during a transitional government from 2009 to 2014.

Tensions had grown during his last administration as he began to lose the support of CAPSAT — the elite military unit that had helped him seize power in the 2009 coup.

It, however, escalated after the military unit rejected instructions to shoot at the protesters and instead, escorted thousands of demonstrators in the main square of the capital.

In response to mounting pressure, Mr Rajoelina tried to dissolve the National Assembly by decree, but the lower house of parliament initiated impeachment proceedings and voted to remove him.

Meanwhile, in a speech broadcast on social media on Monday night, Mr Rajoelina said he fled the country in fear for his life and has settled in a safe location.