Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Addis Abeba (Agenzia Fides) - An agreement between the 4 main political movements, to lead the Madagascar into the elections of 2010, has been reached in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. Known as "additional act" agreements of Maputo of 9 August 2009, the document was signed on the evening of 6 November by the President of the Transitional Authority, Andry Rajoelina (which currently holds power on the island), the resigned President Marc Ravalomanana and by former Presidents Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy.
The agreements call for the formation of a government of national unity; Rajoelina remains President along with two Co-Chairmen. In the coming days, further talks will be undertaken in the capital of Madagascar, Antananarivo, to establish the list of ministers.
The crisis in Madagascar dates back to earlier this year, when the then mayor of Antananarivo, Rajoelina organized a series of popular demonstrations against President Ravalomanana. As a result of pressures from the public and especially those of the army (most of which had sided, though not openly, with Rajoelina), Ravalomanana was forced to resign in late March. The power had been taken by the Transitional Authority, headed by Rajoelina. The African Union and African Development Community (SADC, of which Madagascar is a part) had, however, found it to be an unconstitutional change of power and had strongly lobbied for the return of Ravalomanana. This led to a mediation, which resulted in the Maputo Accords, which were not implemented because of opposition from Ravalomanana, who did not want Rajoelina as ad-interim President. The agreement in Addis Ababa, calling for two co-presidents for Rajoelina, allow Ravalomanana to claim victory, but cast doubts on the holding of a coalition of opponents who have, until now, fought bitterly. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 7/11/2009)
