Madagascar's Constitutional Court on Tuesday confirmed Andry Rajoelina as the winner of the country's presidential election after his opponent had lodged a complaint alleging that the result was riddled with fraud.
"Andry Rajoelina is declared the elected president of the republic," said Judge Jean-Eric Rakotoarisoa, triggering celebrations among Rajoelina supporters gathered in the capital Antananarivo.
In the run-off vote on December 19, Rajoelina took 55.7 percent and Marc Ravalomanana won 44.3 per cent, according to the final results.
Ravalomanana had complained of widespread fraud and petitioned the Constitutional Court.
Last week riot police in the Indian Ocean island used tear gas to break up one of several protests by thousands of Ravalomanana supporters, who claim that the result was rigged.
The two rivals, who are both former presidents, were banned from running in the 2013 election as part of an agreement to end recurring crises that have rocked Madagascar since it gained independence from France in 1960.
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The 2018 two-round election was beset by allegations of fraud from both sides, and a contested result may raise the risk of renewed political instability.
European and African Union election observers said they had not seen any evidence of malpractice.
Rajoelina and Ravalomanana have been locked in a fiercely personal duel for power, coming first and second in the preliminary election in November.
Ravalomanana, 69, was first elected president in 2002 but was forced to resign seven years later by violent demonstrations supported by Rajoelina, then the mayor of Antananarivo.
Rajoelina, now 44, was installed by the army and ruled until 2014. He is a former events planner and successful entrepreneur with slick communication skills.
Both candidates spent lavishly on campaigning, with promises and handouts distributed liberally to voters, who are among the poorest in Africa.
Madagascar is well known for its vanilla and precious redwood but is one of the world's poorest nations, with 76 percent of people living in extreme poverty.
The island, which is also famed for its unique wildlife, is dependent on foreign aid and burdened by political friction.
Outgoing president Hery Rajaonarimampianina was eliminated in the first round after collecting less than nine percent of the vote.
His attempts to change the electoral laws this year backfired, sparking nearly three months of sometimes violent protests.
The demonstrators forced Rajaonarimampianina to accept a "consensus" government tasked with organising the election.