Marc Ravalomanana (born 1949) is a Malagasy tycoon and politician who served as the President of Madagascar from 2002 to 2009. A self-made millionaire and founder of the Tiko dairy empire, he rose to power as a populist reformer but was ousted in a military-backed coup led by Andry Rajoelina. As of January 11, 2026, he is the leading political figure in Madagascar, capitalizing on the recent fall of his rival to position himself for a presidential return.
Key Biographical Information
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Marc Ravalomanana |
| Born | December 12, 1949, Imerinkasinina, Madagascar (Age 76) |
| Former Office | President of Madagascar (2002–2009) |
| Political Party | Tiako I Madagasikara (TIM) (“I Love Madagascar”) |
| Current Status | Leader of the Opposition; High-profile political campaigner. |
| Key Achievement | Turned a family yogurt business into the nation’s largest agribusiness. |
January 2026: The “Reconquest” of Power
Following the October 2025 coup that ousted Andry Rajoelina, Ravalomanana has wasted no time in mobilizing his base to fill the political vacuum.
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The Magro Tanjombato Rally (Jan 10, 2026): Just yesterday, Ravalomanana held a massive political rally at the Magro Tanjombato square in Antananarivo. An estimated 10,000 supporters gathered to hear him speak. In a defiant address, he outlined his “strategic roadmap” for 2026, positioning his TIM party as the only force capable of restoring stability after what he termed “16 years of inaction and destruction” under the Rajoelina era.
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The 2026 Electoral Strategy: As Madagascar operates under a transitional military-civilian council led by Colonel Michael Randrianirina, Ravalomanana is lobbying for a shortened transition period. He is currently calling for the “immediate” organization of presidential elections, framing himself as the “experienced hand” needed to fix the nation’s crumbling utility sector (water and electricity), which sparked the 2025 revolution.
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Legal Battles: Despite the change in government, Ravalomanana is currently embroiled in several legal disputes regarding municipal control of Antananarivo. He is using his 2026 rallies to challenge the influence of the IRMAR platform (Rajoelina’s former party) in local administration.
The “Tiko” King and the 2002 Rise
Ravalomanana’s political identity is inseparable from his business success:
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The Entrepreneur: He began his career selling homemade yogurt from the back of a bicycle. With a World Bank loan in the 1980s, he built Tiko, which eventually gained a near-monopoly on dairy and oil products in Madagascar.
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The Mayor-President: In 1999, he was elected Mayor of Antananarivo, where he gained fame for cleaning up the city’s streets. In 2001, he challenged the “political dinosaurs” and declared himself president after a disputed election, eventually gaining international recognition after a period of civil unrest.
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The “Madagascar Action Plan”: His presidency was marked by rapid infrastructure development and 7% annual growth, though he was often criticized for “mixing state business with his personal Tiko interests.”
Exile and Resilience (2009–2025)
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The 2009 Coup: Accused of authoritarianism and a controversial land-lease deal with Daewoo, Ravalomanana was forced out by a military mutiny that installed the then-mayor Andry Rajoelina.
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The South African Exile: He spent five years in South Africa before returning in 2014. Despite being detained and placed under house arrest, he successfully rebuilt his TIM party into a formidable opposition machine.
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The 2023 Setback: He placed third in the 2023 elections—a vote he boycotted and labeled a fraud. However, the 2025 “Gen Z” protests that removed Rajoelina have effectively wiped the slate clean for him.
2026 Outlook: The Final Campaign?
At 76, Ravalomanana is treating 2026 as his final opportunity to “save” Madagascar:
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The “Father Figure” Rebranding: He has shifted his rhetoric from that of a “CEO President” to a “National Patriarch,” focusing on food security and restoring the “dignity” of the Malagasy people.
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Potential Obstacles: While popular in the capital, he still faces skepticism from certain military factions and provincial voters who remember the “uncompromising” nature of his first presidency. His challenge in 2026 is to convince the youth-led protest movement that an “old guard” billionaire is the radical change they asked for.