Sub-Saharan Africa
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Madagascar's Incumbent Leader Gets Elected for Second Term, Preliminary Data Shows

In September, a few months before the end of his term, the president resigned to run for president, as required by the country's constitution. The vote took place on November 16, one week later than originally scheduled.
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Andry Rajoelina, who has served as president of the Indian Ocean island nation since 2019, won the presidential election by a wide margin, according to the country's electoral body, CENI.
Provisional results showed Rajoelina won 58.9% of the vote, securing the votes of nearly 3 million citizens.
His closest pursuers were parliamentarian Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, who gained 14.4% (over 697,000 people) and Marc Ravalomanana, the nation's former president, who garnered 12.1%, or approximately 586,000 people.
In total, just over 5 million voters cast their ballots out of more than 11 million registered voters, representing a 46% turnout at polling stations, according to the CENI.
The Supreme Constitutional Court is due to announce the official results of the November 16 presidential election in a week.
The election was preceded by opposition protests. Following Rajoelina's resignation to contest the election, the country's constitution required that presidential powers should have passed to Herimanana Razafimahefa, head of the Senate, the country's upper house of parliament.
Since Razafimahefa declined to contest the election for "personal reasons," a "collegial government" headed by Prime Minister Christian Ntsay, who is said to be an ally of Rajoelina, came to power.
The opposition called the move an "institutional coup" that favors Rajoelina.
For his part, Rajoelina, denounced the actions of the 11 opposition candidates, whom he accused of creating a new political crisis "from scratch."
Watch: Opposition Holds Protests in Madagascar

Who is Andry Rajoelina?

Rajoelina was born into a relatively wealthy family, and although his family could afford higher education for their son, the future president decided to drop out of college after earning his bachelor's degree to pursue a career as an entrepreneur.
He started a showbiz company at the age of 19 and managed to become a successful DJ in the country.
Rajoelina entered politics in 2007 when he founded and led the political association Tanora malaGasy Vonona, meaning "Determined Malagasy Youth," and shortly thereafter announced his candidacy for mayor of Antananarivo, which he won that year.
Rajoelina held the specially created position of President of the High Transitional Authority from 2009 to 2014, during which time he was one of the youngest serving heads of state in the world.
The East African country held a general presidential election in 2013, which was won by Hery Rajaonarimampianina, who was endorsed by Rajoelina. He returned to politics in 2018, when he won the presidential election in a runoff.