President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday spoke for the first time by telephone with the army colonel who took over as Madagascar’s head of state after the military ousted his predecessor, pledging the support of France in the political transition of the former French colony.Colonel Michael Randrianirina seized power from Andry Rajoelina amid protests spearheaded by “Gen Z” protesters angry over chronic power cuts and economic stagnation in the Indian Ocean island nation.In October, Randrianirina named a government replete with familiar faces from the island’s political elite, raising fears of sidelining young protesters’ calls for a clean slate after Rajoelina’s ouster.Macron in the telephone talks offered Randrianirina “the support of France”, said a French presidential official asking not to be named.Macron “welcomed the announcement of a national consultation process, a series of reforms, particularly to combat corruption, and the organisation of elections within a reasonable timeframe,” added the official.Macron also asked Randrianirina to “involve representatives of youth and civil society in these various processes and offered France’s support to assist them, in conjunction with its international partners,” the official said.Rajoelina, who also has French nationality, fled the island in the wake of the protests. Randrianirina was sworn in as president in October, swapping his army uniform for a suit.
