Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Antananarivo (Agenzia Fides) - "The situation is still one of confusion and further developments are expected in the coming days," says an editor of Radio Don Bosco, the largest Catholic radio station in Madagascar. As Fides has reported, (see Fides 14/4/2010) negotiations are underway for a meeting between the President of the High Transitional Authority, Andry Rajoelina, and former President of Madagascar Marc Ravalomanana, to be held April 24 in South Africa.
An emissary of South African President Jacob Zuma was received by Rajoelina in recent days, in view of a meeting with Ravalomanana who is in exile in South Africa. On April 14, in an address to the nation, Rajoelina accepted a "new path" to help the country emerge from its crisis, through the formation of a government of national unity with the participation of the movements that correspond respectively to him, Ravalomanana, the other two former Presidents, Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy.
Rajoelina seems to have bowed to pressures from the army, which had issued an ultimatum calling for him to make the country emerge from its crisis as soon as possible (see 14/4/2010). The formation of a government of national unity had been decided upon in the agreements of Addis Ababa and Maputo, signed by the 4 movements, but was not put into practice due to disagreements over its composition. Faced with this impasse, Rajoelina had unilaterally decided to form a government that would lead the country to elections. This decision was harshly criticized by the African Union, which has imposed sanctions against Rajoelina and his collaborators.
The negotiations between Ravalomanana and Rajoelina should, therefore, give a boost to the formation of a government of national unity, although Rajoelina's movement has said that it hopes to overcome the settlements of Maputo and Addis Ababa. This could mean reducing the influence of the movements of Ratsiraka and Zafy. "Excluding these two movements could add confusion and increase the time for forming the new government. This might convince the army to intervene directly in political life," Fides sources said. "The rumors of a possible military coup are still being heard. The forced resignation of Defence Minister General Noel Rakotonandrasana is linked – most are saying – to his alleged involvement in a coup that later foiled. Rakotonandrasana had threatened to prevent the transfer of powers to the Prime Minister, but this has not happened. Rakotonandrasana has been appointed Military Attache in Italy," conclude Fides sources. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 17/4/2010)
