Mialy Razakandisa Rajoelina (born Mialy Razakandisa) is the first lady of Madagascar as wife of President Andry Rajoelina.[1] She previously held the role of first lady during her husband's presidency of the High Transitional Authority of Madagascar from 2009 to 2014 and during his presidency of Madagascar from 2019 to 2023.
Mialy Rajoelina | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Rajoelina in 2022 | |
| First Lady of Madagascar | |
| Assumed role 16 December 2023 | |
| President | Andry Rajoelina |
| In role 19 January 2019 – 9 September 2023 | |
| President | Andry Rajoelina |
| Preceded by | Voahangy Rajaonarimampianina |
| In role 17 March 2009 – 25 January 2014 | |
| President | Andry Rajoelina |
| Preceded by | Lalao Ravalomanana |
| Succeeded by | Voahangy Rajaonarimampianina |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mialy Razakandisa |
| Citizenship | Malagasy, French |
| Political party | Young Malagasies Determined |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Iavoloha Palace |
| Alma mater | Conservatoire national des arts et métiers |
Early life, education, marriage
editMialy Razakandisa Rajoelina, the eldest of three girls,[2] holds a master's degree in finance and accounting management from the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers in Paris.[3] In 1994, Mialy met her future husband, Andry Rajoelina, at a high school in Antananarivo. The couple maintained a long-distance relationship for six years while Mialy completed her studies in Paris and Andry started his career as an entrepreneur. They reunited in Madagascar in 2000 and married later that year. Mialy and Andry have three children together: two sons named Arena (born 2002) and Ilontsoa (born 2005), and a daughter born in 2007 named Andrialy, a combination of their own names.[4]
Business and links with France
editMialy's marriage to Andry provided him with the opportunity to lead Doma Pub, a company owned by Mialy's family, where he ventured into the local advertising hoarding market and began his career as an entrepreneur.[5] During the 2009 crisisin Madagascar, amidst safety concerns, most of Mialy's family relocated to France, including the couple's children.[2] Mialy, who obtained French citizenship while studying in France, also faced safety concerns during this turbulent period.
As first lady
editMialy has made frequent public appearances, such as when she spoke at a TED Talks in Antananarivo in 2011.[6] Since her husband has become president Mialy has founded the FITIA association, which aims to collect donations and offer them the most vulnerable in Madagascar, especially women. Supporters of Mialy and her husband say that the FITIA show that the couple care for Madagascar and its people while opponents say that the organization is a propaganda campaign aimed at increasing their popularity.[7] Mialy has admitted to using her popularity to help her husband although she also adds that she sees nothing wrong with it and that people who support her usually support her husband as well.[2] She is the president and spokesperson of Fitia, a humanitarian association aiming at helping the poor and the sick. She was the youngest first lady Madagascar has ever had.[3]
Faith
editLike her husband, Mialy is a Roman Catholic, in April 2013 she and Andry met with Pope Francis to become the first African leader and first lady to be received by the new pope at that time.[8]
References
edit- ^ bio of Mialy Rajoelina Archived 2012-05-21 at the Wayback Machine, Andry Rajoelina official website (in French)
- ^ a b c "Interview de Mialy Rajoelina : " Sarah Radavidra n'a jamais représenté une menace pour notre couple "" (in French). Actumada. 12 February 2010. Archived from the original on 18 January 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
- ^ a b "Mialy Rajoelina: First Lady of Madagascar". AG Magazine. 19 September 2012. Archived from the original on 24 August 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
- ^ "PORTRAIT – MIALY RAJOELINA: Une femme de ressources". L'Express de l'Ile Maurice (La Sentinelle Limited) (in French). 5 January 2008. Archived from the original on 18 February 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
- ^ "Andry Rajoelina, the billboard king turned president". African Intelligence. 8 January 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- ^ "TEDxAntananarivo : Mialy Rajoelina sur la lutte contre le Cancer feminin" (in French). Gasy.net. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
- ^ "Mialy Rajoelina: une première dame qui sort de l'ordinaire (Mialy Rajoelina: a first lady out of the ordinary)" (in French). Gender Links for Equality and Justice. 28 July 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- ^ "Madagascar leader Andry Rajoelina meets Pope Francis". Africa Review. 27 April 2013. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2016.