Military Leader Orders Polygraph Tests for New Ministers
Michael Randrianirina, Madagascar’s military president, has decreed that new ministers must pass lie detector tests as part of efforts to eliminate corruption among government officials. This announcement follows his dismissal of the prime minister and entire cabinet without providing any explanation earlier this month.
Randrianirina assumed power in October under the banner “Gen Z Madagascar.” However, the youth quickly became disillusioned with his selection of government officials, whom they perceived as representatives of the old, corrupt elite.
“We have decided to use a polygraph. It is with this polygraph that the background integrity checks will be carried out.”
The president indicated that a new cabinet would be revealed early next week. He added,
“We will know who is corrupt and who can help us, who is going to betray the youth struggle.”
Background of Protests and Political Changes
Malagasy youth began protesting in September of the previous year, initially responding to water and power outages. The demonstrations later expanded to broader political grievances. During the early days of these protests, at least 22 people were killed.
On 11 October, the elite military unit Capsat, where Randrianirina held the rank of colonel, intervened against protesters. The following day, President Andry Rajoelina reportedly departed for Dubai aboard a French military plane.
Subsequently, Randrianirina was sworn in as interim president and committed to holding elections by late 2027. Activists affiliated with Gen Z have urged him to confirm this election timeline, while criticizing his appointments due to their perceived connections to the previous regime.
Dismissal and Appointment of Government Officials
On 9 March, Randrianirina dismissed the prime minister and cabinet. On the following Sunday, he announced that Mamitiana Rajaonarison, the anti-corruption chief, would serve as the new prime minister. Randrianirina stated on Thursday that both he and Rajaonarison would only interview ministerial candidates who successfully passed lie detector tests.
“We’re not looking for someone who is 100% clean, but over 60%. That way, Madagascar will finally be able to develop.”
Reactions to the Polygraph Measure
One of the managers of Gen Z Madagascar’s social media accounts expressed skepticism regarding the use of polygraphs, stating,
“It’s not even scientifically proven to work. For me it’s just a joke and embarrassing.”
He further commented,
“We agree that the previous ministers weren’t good. We still have hope for the new ministers, but in general I think this regime is already better than the regime of Andry Rajoelina.”
Economic and Corruption Context
Madagascar is among the world’s poorest nations, with a gross domestic product per capita of approximately $500, according to World Bank data. Despite its economic challenges, the island is rich in natural resources such as vanilla and precious gems. Campaigners have accused officials and corrupt businesspeople of exploiting these resources.
The country ranked 149th out of 180 countries in Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index.
Agence-France Presse and Associated Press contributed to this report.
