( CNN ) -- What 's happening in Madagascar ? Supporters of opposition leader Andry Rajoelina attend a rally in Antananarivo on Monday . Marc Ravalomanana resigned as Madagascar 's president after weeks of bitter and deadly political clashes . The military handed power to Andry Rajoelina , the 34-year-old former mayor of Antananarivo . Rajoelina and Ravalomanana have been engaged in a bitter power struggle since the beginning of the year . Despite vowing that he would never give up power without an election or referendum , Ravalomanana fled his presidential palace . The army later stormed the abandoned palace as a show of support for Rajoelina . Analysts believe that Ravalomanana had little choice but to step down once he lost the army 's support . The power grab ended a chaotic few days in the island nation . Though Rajoelina 's supporters say he is now in charge , the dust has not yet settled . Is this a Coup , as the African Union has suggested , or is this a popular expression of the people ? Why did this happen ? Trouble has been brewing in Madagascar since January , when Ravalomanana sacked Rajoelina from his post in the capital . Rajoelina , a former DJ and media entrepreneur , tapped into rising frustration in the country over high food prices and service delivery to rally support against the president . He set up a parallel government and led massive street protests against his rival . Over 100 people were killed in the protests , culminating in a demonstration outside the presidential palace in February when a further 23 were killed . Reports suggest most were killed by the security forces . While Rajoelina has tapped into popular discontent , Madagascar watchers say that to call this a popular revolution over simplifies the takeover . `` I think at first Ravalomanana was quite popular with the people but he treated the political elite with disdain , '' said historian Stephen Ellis . This made him enemies within the country . Ravalomanana v. Rajoelina -- are they that different ? Ravalomanana made his fortune in business and has interests in several media outlets . He came to the fore politically in 1999 when he was appointed mayor of Antananarivo . Rajoelina gained prominence as a DJ and also has interests in several media businesses . He too gained political traction by becoming the mayor of Antananarivo . Both men gained popular support by reaching out to the masses as a leader for the youth of Madagascar . Ravalomanana was first elected president in 2001 and won a second term in 2006 . To many Malagasy he represented a new breed of politician-a self-made millionaire , a no-nonsense business leader . But Ravalomanana maintained his business empire while in office and it was unclear to many where his business interests ended and his political leadership began . Rajoelina tapped into the very same strategies of slick marketing and a youthful appeal that Ravalomanana had depended on . Some feel he is just a younger version of the former president . Will the international community recognize the new government ? It is unlikely that key members of the international community will rush to support Rajoelina 's push into power . `` All of the parties to this conflict need to exercise restraint and resume dialogue , '' said Robert Wood , U.S. State Dept . Spokesman , `` I also want to make clear that any extra constitutional resolution will result in a cut-off of U.S . assistance . '' Prior to the takeover , the African Union warned that any power transfer aided by the military would amount to a coup d ' état . The AU has since diluted its rhetoric-removing any mention of a coup in its official communiqué on the takeover and calling for the protagonists to `` comply scrupulously with the provisions of the Constitution of Madagascar on interim arrangements . '' The crisis in Madagascar is a test for the African Union . Despite purporting to be champion of democracy , recent power grabs in Mauritania and Guinea and the botched elections in Kenya and Zimbabwe , have tested the continental groups claims . Why should you care about Madagascar ? Madagascar is n't just a cartoon movie . It is the fourth largest island on the planet with a population of around 20 million , a rich cultural history and breathtaking natural diversity . In the relative stability of the last 8 years , the country 's tourism sector has boomed , bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars . However most ordinary Malagasy have not seen any trickle down from the tourism industry . The country remains one of the poorest in the world .
Madagascar military hands power to opposition leader Andry Rajoelina . Under Madagascar constitution , Rajoelina to young to become president . Crisis has plunged poverty-stricken nation into turmoil . Thousands of people took to the streets to protest rising food prices .