Randrianirina, a military officer sworn in as the new president of Madagascar.

Days after a popular uprising, which forced President Andry Rajoelina to fly into exile, Madagascar has sworn in an army colonel as its new leader.

In a ceremony on Friday, the High Constitutional Court of the African island nation formally appointed Colonel Michael Randrianirina, capping a turbulent week in which the military stepped in after Rajoelina was impeached on Tuesday for desertion of duty. The United Nations reports that at least 22 people have been killed and over 100 others have been injured in recent weeks’ deadly mass protests over water and electricity shortages.

Today marks a historic turning point for our country. With a people in full fervour, driven by the desire for change and a deep love for their homeland, we joyfully open a new chapter in the life of our nation,” Randrianirina said on Friday.

The ceremony was attended by military officers, politicians, representatives of the Gen Z youth-led protest movement and several foreign delegations, including from the United States, the European Union, Russia and France.

“We will work hand in hand with all the driving forces of the nation to draft a fine constitution … and to agree on new electoral laws for the organisation of elections and referendums,” Randrianirina said, thanking the youth for spearheading the protests that ousted Rajoelina.

“We are committed to breaking with the past,” Randrianirina said. “Our main mission is to thoroughly reform the country’s administrative, socioeconomic and political systems of governance,” he added.

In addition to promising polls in 18 to 24 months, the 51-year-old commander of the CAPSAT team informed local media that talks were underway to select a prime minister by consensus. Randrianirina disputed he had started a coup in the face of international condemnation, including from the UN, citing the constitutional court’s support for his new position.

The constitutional court’s backing of the CAPSAT commander has been denounced by Rajoelina’s camp as being rife with procedural irregularities that run the risk of upending the former French colony. The youth-led protest movement on September 25 was sparked by its insistence that Rajoelina continue to be the leader and its efforts to address the issues plaguing the poor island.

In a statement released late Wednesday, Rajoelina’s office acknowledged that he left the nation the same weekend that CAPSAT supported the demonstrators, claiming he was afraid for his safety. He kept his location a secret.

According to media sources, the 51-year-old was flown to the French island of Reunion on Sunday and then to Dubai on a French military aircraft.