Armed Forces: a couple of former rebels promoted general

The promotion is somehow a reward for due services. Army and State Police colonels who were among the rebels supportive of Andry Rajoelina in latest March were promoted generals by the end of the Cabinet meeting of the High Authority of Transition. 

Before taking off for Addis-Ababa Ethiopia, for the political mobility leaders’ summit concerning the Malagasy crisis, Andry Rajoelina was keen on reward those to whom he owed his rise to power. About twenty officers were promoted. 

Among the most famous newly promoted generals, one can notice the Defense minister himself, Noel Rakotondrasana, the joint chief of staff, André Ndriarijaona, the commander-in-chief of the national state police, Bruno Razafindrakoto, the commander of the Antananarivo region, Richard Ravalomanana, and the minister for the environment, Calixte Randriamiandrisoa.  

The promotion has, first and foremost, regarded the army’s top command, so far dominated by the colonels’ regime, excepted as for general Claude Ravelomanana, State Police’s State Secretary. 

Another officer from the navy, Hyppolite Ramaroson, was promoted vice admiral, making him the highest ranked serving army officer, the equivalent of an army marshall. 

Few months earlier, other promotions were programmed within the army, namely those granting the rank of lieutenant colonels to the very famous Special Task Force’s commanders Charles Andrianasoavina and Lylison René.  

Eight months after the Coup, most of the officers who contributed to the takeover operated by the high Authority of Transition, and subsequently to the fall of Marc Ravalomanana, are being rewarded. The promotion also serves as an improvement of the army’s picture, dominated by the rebel colonels’ regime whereas many other generals are still acting.  

Andry Rajoelina absolutely wants to keep his supportive militaries faithful in order to avoid surprises. Without the officers’ led mutiny of the Capsat base camp in March, holding on to power is impossible; and he is perfectly aware of it. The division of the armed forces became a genuine open secret.