Madagascar’s army colonel Michael Randrianirina was sworn in as the new president on Friday, days after the army grabbed power amid bloody protests that rocked the country for three weeks.

Mr Randrianirina, who led CAPSAT, a unit of Madagascar’s army that supported protesting youth, was sworn in as the new president days after former President Andry Rajoelina fled the country.

“Today marks a historic turning point for our country. With 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,” Mr Randrianirina said after he took the presidential oath at the country’s top court in Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital.

Mr Randrianirina promised to draft a new constitution and electoral laws, adding, “We are committed to breaking with the past. Our main mission is to thoroughly reform the country’s administrative, socio-economic, and political systems of governance.”

“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,” Mr Randrianirina said.

Presided over by the head of the constitutional court, Mr Randrianirina’s swearing-in ceremony was attended by politicians, military officers, representatives of the youth-led protest movement, and some foreign delegations.

The army’s takeover in Madagascar followed weeks of protests that broke out on September 25 over water and power shortages. It morphed into calls for Mr Rajoelina’s resignation.

In the heat of the protests, Mr Rajoelina sacked his cabinet members and begged for one year to fix power and water shortages, promising to resign should the problems persist to pacify protesters and douse tension. But his appeal could not persuade protesters who insisted that he resign.

On Monday, Mr Rajoelina went into hiding, accusing soldiers and politicians of plotting a coup to assassinate him. He also announced the dissolution of the parliament on Tuesday morning to block his impeachment, before the army announced a power takeover.

During the protests that lasted three weeks, over 20 people were killed as a result of the police’s brutal crackdown on protesters.