Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina dissolved the country’s lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, on October 14, 2025, in an effort to block ongoing impeachment proceedings initiated by the opposition.

This move comes amid a deepening political crisis, following weeks of youth-led anti-government protests and a military rebellion, with an elite army unit, CAPSAT, backing demands for his resignation. Rajoelina, who fled the country and is currently operating from an undisclosed location, issued the decree while lawmakers were preparing to advance impeachment efforts, effectively halting the process.

However, the opposition has challenged the legality of the dissolution, with the leader of parliament’s opposition stating the decree is “not legally valid” because the president did not consult the assembly’s leadership as required.