Madagascar’s president Andry Rajoelina has named a new finance minister days after sacking all ministers for what he termed ‘poor performance’ and weeks after the reported foiling of a plot to kill the former coup leader.
Rajoelina announced in a televised address that Rindra Hasimbelo Rabarinirinarison will become finance minister. Rabarinirinason who was previously a senior official in the finance ministry is one of 11 women promoted to a cabinet expanded to 32 ministers, vice-ministers and secretaries of state from 25.
Prosecutors earlier stated that 21 more suspects, including 12 military personnel, had been arrested in connection with a plot to kill Rajoelina and topple the government.
Six people, one of them a French citizen, were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the plot after what officials said was a months-long investigation.
Madagascar, an ex-French colony of 26 million, has a history of political violence and instability. Rajoelina, 44, was sworn in as president in 2019 after a hotly contested election and a constitutional court challenge from his rival.
