Madagascar - December 2025

On 23 December, three junta appointees were sworn in as judges of Madagascar’s High Constitutional Court (Haute Cour Constitutionnelle, HCC), despite objections from the judges they replaced, who disputed government claims that they had resigned from their positions. The purported resignations were announced by a presidential decree issued on 22 December, which stated that President Michaël Randrianirina had been informed of the judges’ decision to step down by the head of the Court. However, the judges denied having written or submitted their resignations and asserted that no process had been instituted against them to create vacancies on the court. They also reported having been escorted by armed soldiers from their homes to the swearing in ceremony of their successors. All three judges were appointed by former President Andry Rajoelina, who in October was deposed in a coup d'état that brought Randrianirina to power.     

Sources: Midi Madagasikara, L'Express, Présidence de la Refondation de la République, Déclaration formelle contestant l’existence de toute démission