Herimanana Razafimahefa

Herimanana Razafimahefa
Razafimahefa in 2021
President of the Senate of Madagascar
In office
19 January 2021 – 12 October 2023
PresidentAndry Rajoelina
Preceded byRivo Rakotovao
Succeeded byRichard Ravalomanana
Secretary General, Ministry of National Education
In office
2020 – 19 January 2021
Prime MinisterChristian Ntsay
Personal details
Born1957 (age 66–67)
NationalityMalagasy

Herimanana Razafimahefa (born 1957)[1] is a Malagasy politician who served as President of the Senate of Madagascar from January 2021 to October 2023, succeeding Rivo Rakotovao.[2][3][4] He was previously a senator representing Antananarivo, and ran unopposed for the president of the senate position.[5]

In August 2020, following a reorganization of the Ministry of National Education, Technical and Vocational Education (MENETP), Razafimahefa was reappointed secretary general of the Ministry of National Education.[6] While in the education ministry, he also made international news in April 2020 for supporting president Andry Rajoelina's recommendation to use a certain herbal drink to protect people from COVID-19.[7]

Razafimahefa was described by the In Transformation Initiative newsletter as a "fierce Rajoelina loyalist".[2]

Razafimahefa has worked as a minister of energy and mines.[8][when?]

On 10 October 2023, Razafimahefa said he was ready to exercise his duties as interim head of state. A position which is due to him during an electoral period according to the Constitution.[9] On 12 October 2023, he was unanimously removed from his position as president of the Senate by a special session of the Senate.[10]

  1. ^ "Madagascar – Senate". IPU Parline. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Monthly Update – Madagascar" (PDF). In Transformation Initiative. South Africa. 20 January 2021.
  3. ^ "EISA Madagascar: Parliamentary support". Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa. 2021. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  4. ^ Marcus, Richard R. (19 September 2022). Africa Yearbook Volume 18: Politics, Economy and Society South of the Sahara in 2021. Brill Publishers. pp. 479–486. ISBN 9789004519572.
  5. ^ R, Mandimbisoa (20 January 2021). "Herimanana Razafimahefa succède à Rivo Rakotovao" [Herimanana Razafimahefa succeeds Rivo Rakotovao]. Madagascar Tribune (in French). Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  6. ^ "Administration – Herimanana Razafimahefa reconduit secrétaire général du ministère de l'Education nationale" [Admiistration – Herimanana Razafimahefa reappointed Secretary General of the Ministry of National Education]. 2424.mg (in French). 17 August 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  7. ^ Bezain, Laetitia (28 April 2020). "Madagascar's president touts herbal drink against COVID-19". ABC News. Associated Press.
  8. ^ "'Christian dream' of Madagascar leader irks critics". Dawn. Reuters. 12 September 2005.
  9. ^ https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20231010-madagascar-le-pr%C3%A9sident-du-s%C3%A9nat-se-dit-pr%C3%AAt-%C3%A0-assumer-la-pr%C3%A9sidence-par-int%C3%A9rim
  10. ^ "Madagascar: Le président du sénat Herimanana Razafimahefa destitué par ses pairs". Retrieved 17 October 2023.