Military officers who seized power in Madagascar in a protest crisis said their leader would be sworn in as the country's new president on Friday.
The military leadership under Colonel Michael Randrianirina has promised elections within two years after President Andry Rajoelina was impeached following weeks of demonstrations.
The CAPSAT elite military unit took power moments after parliament voted to impeach Rajoelina on Tuesday.
The 51-year-old president, in power since 2009, appeared to have fled the country as street protests escalated.
Transition to last up to two years
CAPSAT commander Randrianirina will be sworn in as transitional president during a "solemn hearing" of the country's top court on Friday, the new leadership said on Wednesday.
It made the announcement in a statement attributed to the "Presidential Council for the Refoundation of the Republic of Madagascar" and signed by Randrianirina himself.
The colonel has said the transition to civilian leadership would take under two years and include the restructuring of major institutions.
"It wasn't a coup, it was a case of taking responsibility because the country was on the brink of collapse," Randrianirina said on television earlier on Wednesday.
Rajoelina's critic
He pledged elections in 18 to 24 months and told local media that consultations were under way to appoint a prime minister and form a new government.
Randrianirina had long been a vocal critic of Rajoelina's administration and was reportedly imprisoned for several months in 2023 for plotting a coup.
His swift takeover drew international concern.
The African Union on Wednesday told AFP it was suspending Madagascar "with immediate effect".
Madagascar's capital calm on Wednesday
The United Nations said it was "deeply concerned by the change of power."
The capital Antananarivo remained calm Wednesday, though uncertainty lingered over what might come next.
The youth-led Gen Z movement that initiated the protests on September 25 over lack of water and energy welcomed Randrianirina's intervention.
The colonel had said he is "ready to talk to the youth and we are ready to answer the call."
