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Previous head of state Andry Rajoelina, deposed through a putsch recently, has lost of his nationality under the new government.

This directive, signed by the current PM Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo, pointed to Madagascan statutes specifying that individuals who obtained foreign citizenship must give up their national status.

The former president, in his fifties, acquired nationality of France in the past, resulting in appeals for his disqualification from the last national vote. Yet he ignored those calls and succeeded in the election.

Rajoelina escaped the island country after weeks of protests over persistent electricity and supply issues, ending with a seizure of power headed by military leader Randrianirina.

Rajoelina has said he has gone into hiding for his protection, and his location remain unclear.

After revealing his citizenship in France prior to the recent presidential vote, he stated he had gained privately it to simplify life for his children studying in France.

Recently, he had confronted protests initially organised by youth movement young protesters and influenced by similar public dissent in another nation, which were intensified when his regime answered with aggression.

Rajoelina sacked his power minister and then his cabinet - but this did little to quell the demands for him to leave office.

Demonstrators wished that the president would step down to make way for a peaceful, change in leadership.

However, he clung to power, eventually leading to the nation's special forces, of which Randrianirina was chief, to take control.

The colonel was inaugurated and has created a different cabinet, pledging to conduct a vote within 24 months.