Andry Rajoelina was a young, man-of-the-people mayor when he led popular protests against the Madagascar government 16 years ago.

The uprising resulted in a military-backed coup that brought Rajoelina to power as the transitional leader of his Indian Ocean country at the age of just 34.

He then left the role in 2014 but returned to the presidency in 2019 through elections.

On Tuesday, the same military unit that aided Rajoelina's rise declared it was taking power in Madagascar and ousting him as president after weeks of youth-led protests — this time against Rajoelina and his government.

Here's what to know about Rajoelina's rise and fall, and how the military and young people were pivotal in both.

Radio DJ turned media mogul

The son of a Madagascan army colonel, Rajoelina worked as

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