Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Antananarivo (Agenzia Fides) - “We are awaiting developments on the situation and to see if, when, and how the announced demonstrations of Rajoelina's opponents turn out,” Agenzia Fides was told by sources at Radio Don Bosco in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar. Yesterday, September 9, Regis Manoro, representative of the movement of former President Albert Zafy, launched an ultimatum at Andry Rajoelina, who has just formed a new government excluding all the other participants in the Maputo Accords (see Fides 9/9/2009).
“With the formation of the new government, Andry Rajoelina and his supporters are just asking for war. So, we preparing to react,” said Manoro, adding that Zafy is preparing to send a letter to Rajoelina asking that he go back to the negotiation table.
The Accords signed in Maputo (Mozambique) on August 9, by Rajoelina, President of the High Transition Authority, and 3 former Presidents of Madagascar: Marc Ravalomanan, Didier Ratsiraka, and Albert Zafy, call for the creation of a government of transitional national unity that would lead the country until the next elections in 15 months' time. The 4 parties, however, have not reached an agreement on the assignment of positions. Ravalomanana, in particular, who was forced to resign in March, does not want Rajoelina to continue serving as Head of State. In light of this situation, Rajoelina – with the support of the military – has launched a new executive branch without the participation of the 3 former Presidents.
“Zafy's movement has been the first to react, perhaps because it is the only one of the 3 former Presidents that lives on the island,” sources told Fides. “Ravalomanana is in exile in South Africa, while Ratsiraka has been living since 2002 in France. It is curious to see the 3 former Presidents in a coalition against Rajoelina, as they were their own opponents in the recent past. Zafy, for example, never recognized Ravalomanana as President. In fact, he used to call him, “Mr. Ravalomanana.” The same goes for Ratsiraka, who ran neck-to-neck against Ravalomanana in the 2002 Presidential Elections, which he lost and was forced to resign. To beat Ratsiraka, Ravalomanana, who was Mayor of Antananarivo, moved masses. The same happened this year with the capital's former mayor, Rajoelina, who forced Ravalomanana to have to resign.”
“Thus, it is a power struggle among the 'strong' men, where there does not seem to be any desire to seek the common good,” Fides sources said.
The movements of the 3 Presidents have declared the coordination of their activities and that they are ready to create “the institutions stipulated in the Maputo Accords.” “It would mean the formation of a parallel administration to that of the High Transitional Authority,” with a government, a High Court of Justice and local institutions,” Fides sources said. “If the opposition proceeds in this manner, it would lead to a legitimacy conflict that would be hard to resolve.”
The Heads of State in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), gathered in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo), have “firmly condemned” the formation of the new government in Madagascar, decided by Rajoelina on his own, as it “violates the spirit of the Maputo Accords.” As a result, the SADC has decided to uphold Madagascar's suspension from the Community “until Constitutional Order is established.” (LM) (Agenzia Fides 10/9/2009)
