Madagascar's Rajoelina seeks re-election after weeks of opposition protests

Andry Nirina Rajoelina, President of Madagascar, arrives for the closing session of the New Global Financial Pact Summit, Friday, June 23, 2023 in Paris, France. Lewis Joly/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) - Madagascar's president is set to seek re-election on Thursday in the face of weeks of protests by opposition groups who say he is ineligible to run and the vote should be delayed.

Andry Rajoelina - a 49-year-old entrepreneur and former DJ - rose to power in a 2009 coup that scared off investors in the Indian Ocean island. He stepped down after almost five years as leader of a transitional authority and then became president after winning a 2018 election.