Madagascar's coup that the military swears isn't a coup has led to the world's second-youngest leader taking office. Andry Rajoelina is just 34 and has declared himself 59-year-old president Marc Ravalomanana's replacement. The one-time DJ has had a meteoric rise through the political ranks, thanks to his energetic leadership of the opposition and pop-star image. The media and advertising entrepreneur is now in charge of an island of 20 million people.
Good luck to him. Madagascar is among the world's poorest nations, with 70 per cent of its population living on less than US$1 a day. There are doubtless those who contend he is too young for the job; the reaction of a number of my colleagues was exactly that. Age does not account for abilities, though, and he may well prove to be his country's saviour.
Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck heads the list of youngest leaders - he is 29. But of the top 10, only Russia's president, 43-year-old Dmitry Medvedev, can make any claims to head one of the world's significant countries. Even then, it is his prime minister and predecessor, Vladimir Putin, who is really in charge. When it comes to power, leadership and youth, though, it is US President Barack Obama whom we most think of now.
The election that put Mr Obama, 47, in the White House was in part about age. He is among America's youngest-ever presidents. His rival, John McCain, 72, would have been the oldest-elected American leader had he won. His lack of technological savvy was a factor in his loss. The question raised then, as with Mr Rajoelina, is: should age determine eligibility for high office?
Madagascar's constitution says so: it makes no mention of an upper age limit, but states its president has to be at least 40, a matter that the new leader still has to contend with. This is in sync with numerous other nations, which would seem to equate youth with inexperience. Afghanistan and Algeria also require their presidents to be at least 40, while 35 is necessary in the US, Austria and Mexico, among others. Colombia accepts a 30-year-old president, while France's constitution dictates 23.
These regulations ignore the fact that ability, maturity and wisdom come to us at different times - or, for some people, never. Leadership knows no bounds. Alexander the Great had conquered much of the known ancient world by the time of his death a month short of his 33rd birthday. The founder and chief executive of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, is just 23 and, according to Forbes magazine, is already worth US$1.5 billion. Libya's leader, Muammar Gaddafi, was only 27 when he led the coup that swept him to power in 1969. History is littered with such examples.