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Andry Nirina Rajoelina (Malagasy: -mgˈjaɳɖʐʲ nʲˈrinə̥ radzoˈelə̥), born May 30 1974, is a Malagasy media/advertising mogul and former mayor of Antananarivo who declared himself transitional head of state of Madagascar in a 2009 military coup that was condemned by most of the international community. When popular protests in early 2009 forced elected president Marc Ravalomanana to resign, Rajoelina dissolved Madagascar's parliament, changed the high court judges and swore himself in as President of the High Transitional Authority on March 21, 2009. Rajoelina was Mayor of Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, from December 2007 to February 2009. Throughout his tenure as mayor, Rajoelina voiced strong opposition to the policies and practices of President Ravalomanana, culminating in the launching of popular protests that, together with military intervention, resulted in the end of Ravalomanana's presidency and Rajoelina's own assumption of power as President of the High Transitional Authority (HAT).
Rajoelina is the youngest head of government in Africa and the second youngest in the world, surpassed only by Prime Minister of Montenegro Igor Lukšić, who is two years his junior. His position was challenged in an unsuccessful military coup attempt on 17 � 18 November 2010. Since rising to power in early 2009, Rajoelina's regime has been accused of corruption, disregard for human rights and particularly the mixing of state and personal financial interests - many of the same abuses of power for which he had frequently condemned former President Marc Ravalomanana in the run-up to the 2009 coup.
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