Antananarivo (Agenzia Fides) - “Rumors of a possible kidnapping of Prime Minister Monja Roindefo by the military are leading to a greater tension between parts of the army and some politicians,” Agenzia Fides was told by sources from Don Bosco Radio in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar.
On September 19, several local news agencies reported on several indiscretions on a plan of a group of soldiers to kidnap the Prime Minister. At first, word spread of a possible military coups (see Fides 18/9/2009). Rumors were not confirmed and no episodes of violence were seen. “These revelations, whether they be true or false, are a sign of the negative attitude in some parts of the military in relationship to the Prime Minister, who is seen as an obstacle in the actualization of the Maputo Accords,” Fides sources said. The Maputo Accords signed in August in the Mozambican capital by the 4 main political movements: President of the High Authority of Transition Andry Rajoelina, and the three former Presidents Didier Ratsiraka, Albert Zafy, and Marc Ravalomanana, calling for the creation of a transitional government of national unity, with the Prime Minister “of consensus,” chosen by the 4 parties, as the head. It is clear that if Rajeolina, as a signer of the Maputo Accords, could maintain an institutional role (perhaps Transitional President, even though President Ravalomanana opposes the idea), the present Prime Minister would run the risk of being excluded from the blue print of the new government. “This is why many people of Madagascar, supporters of Rajoelina, maintain that Prime Minister Roindefo is blocking the enactment of the Maputo Accords. Among these are members of the military who have perhaps themselves spread the rumor of the kidnapping of Roindefo, in order to place pressure on the Prime Minister and convince him to join their side,” Fides sources said.
Rajoelina, who has left for New York, to participate in the UN General Assembly (see Fides 18/9/2009), has for some time now stopped making public declarations. “Various commentators believe that Rajoelina's silence may be a sign of the existing contrasts with the Prime Minister, who was appointed last February by Rajoelina himself, who presented him as the new face of Madagascar's politics. In recent months, it seems a rift has been caused between the two allies,” Fides sources said.
Yesterday, September 20, was the last day of the ultimatum launched by the 3 former Presidents Ratsiraka, Zafy, and Ravalomanana to Rajoelina and Roindefo, asking that they return to the negotiation table to decide on the enactment of the Maputo Accords, threatening them that if they do not, they will create a parallel government (see Fides 14/9/2009). “For the time being, the movements of the 3 former Heads of Sate have not indicated what their next steps will be,” Fides sources added. “We are now awaiting the arrival, in early October, of the African Union delegation, to seek a relaunching of negotiations among the 4 movements, however the solution of the crisis does not appear to be in sight,” Fides sources concluded. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 21/9/2009)