Mialy Rajoelina Explained

Mialy Rajoelina
Office1:First Lady of Madagascar
Term Label1:Assumed role
Term Start1:16 December 2023
President1:Andry Rajoelina
Term Label2:In role
Term Start2:19 January 2019
Term End2:9 September 2023
President2:Andry Rajoelina
Predecessor2:Voahangy Rajaonarimampianina
Term Label3:In role
Term Start3:17 March 2009
Term End3:25 January 2014
President3:Andry Rajoelina
Predecessor3:Lalao Ravalomanana
Successor3:Voahangy Rajaonarimampianina
Birth Name:Mialy Razakandisa
Party:Young Malagasies Determined
Children:3
Alma Mater:Conservatoire national des arts et métiers
Residence:Iavoloha Palace
Citizenship:Malagasy, French

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.

Early life, education, marriage

Mialy 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. 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.[3]

Business and links with France

Mialy'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.[4] 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

Mialy has made frequent public appearances, such as when she spoke at a TED Talks in Antananarivo in 2011.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7]

Faith

Like 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

  1. http://www.andry-rajoelina.tv/mialy-rajoelina/ bio of Mialy Rajoelina
  2. Web site: Interview de Mialy Rajoelina : " Sarah Radavidra n’a jamais représenté une menace pour notre couple ". French. 12 February 2010. 18 October 2016. Actumada. 18 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180118035430/http://www.moov.mg/erreur.html. dead.
  3. News: PORTRAIT – MIALY RAJOELINA: Une femme de ressources . L'Express de l'Ile Maurice (La Sentinelle Limited) . 5 January 2008 . 6 October 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140218212959/http://www.lexpress.mu/services/archive-100506-une-femme-de-ressources.html . 18 February 2014 . French . dead . dmy .
  4. Web site: Andry Rajoelina, the billboard king turned president . African Intelligence . 8 January 2013 . 19 October 2016 .
  5. Web site: TEDxAntananarivo : Mialy Rajoelina sur la lutte contre le Cancer feminin. French. Gasy.net. 15 October 2016.
  6. Web site: Mialy Rajoelina: une première dame qui sort de l’ordinaire (Mialy Rajoelina: a first lady out of the ordinary). Gender Links for Equality and Justice. 28 July 2011 . 19 October 2016. French.
  7. Web site: Mialy Rajoelina: First Lady of Madagascar. AG Magazine. 19 September 2012. 15 October 2016. 24 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190824040659/http://www.afrikangoddessmag.com/2012/09/19/2105/. dead.
  8. Web site: Madagascar leader Andry Rajoelina meets Pope Francis. Africa Review. 27 April 2013. 19 October 2016. 29 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201029051225/http://www.africareview.com/news/Madagascar-leader-Andry-Rajoelina-meets-Pope-Francis/979180-1760272-1o7n81z/index.html. dead.