Andry Rajoelina has taken power with the backing of the military in Madagascar. The former leader, President Marc Ravalomanana, resigned after one of the palaces was stormed by the army on March 16. Rajoelina is the former mayor of Antananarivo.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
Ezulwini, Swaziland
19 March 2009
Document
1. The Extraordinary Summit of the Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation met in Ezulwini, Kingdom of Swaziland on 19 March 2009 to discuss the political and security situation in the Republic of Madagascar.
2. The Extraordinary summit was chaired by His Majesty, King Mswati III, Chairperson of SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
3. The Extraordinary Summit of the Organ Troika was attended by the following Heads of State and Government and Government representatives:
* Kingdom of Swaziland - His Majesty King Mswati III, Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence & Security Cooperation
* Mozambique - H.E. President Armando Emilio Guebuza, Deputy Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation
* Angola - H.E. Garcia Bires, Ambassador of the Republic of Angola in Mozambique
* South Africa - Hon Charles Nqakula, Minister for Defence
4. The Executive Secretary of SADC, Dr Tomaz A. Salomao also attended the Extraordinary Summit.
5. The Extraordinary Summit noted that a SADC Troika Mission was undertaken on 09 February 2009 to assess the situation in the Republic of Madagascar following the brief by the Prime Minister of Madagascar to the SADC Ministerial Committee of the Organ (MCO) Troika at the margins of the AU Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 02 February 2009.
6. A preliminary mission to the Republic of Madagascar was undertaken by the SADC Executive Secretary from 06-07 February 2009.
7. A follow-up mission comprising the Organ Troika Member States – the Kingdom of Swaziland, the Republic of Mozambique and the Republic of Angola—took place from the 14-19 February 2009.
8. The Extraordinary Summit also noted that in an attempt to have insight of the political and security situation in the Republic of Madagascar, the Mission held consultations with the following stakeholders:
i. The President of the Republic of Madagascar, His Excellency Marc Ravalomanana;
ii. Prime Minister of the Republic of Madagascar, H.E. Charles Rabemanajara;
iii. Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Republic of Madagascar, Gen. Marcel Ranjeva;
iv. The National Electoral Council of Madagascar;
v. The Council of Christian Churches in Madagascar;
vi. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Antananarivo and the;
vii. Members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to Madagascar, and
viii. The former Mayor of Antananarivo Mr. Andry Rajoelina.
9. During these consultations, the Mission observed the following notables:
i. The need to encourage political dialogue among all the stakeholders in Madagascar.
ii. The need for political tolerance and respect for the rule of law.
iii. The need to resolve the current political challenges through peaceful means other than resorting to violence.
iv. The need for respect for Human Rights.
10. The Extraordinary Summit of the Organ condemns in the strongest terms the unconstitutional actions that have led to the illegal ousting of the democratically-elected President of a SADC Member State.
11. In the circumstances SADC does not and cannot recognize Mr Rajoelina as President of Madagascar because his appointment not only violates the Constitution of Madagascar and democratic principles, but violates the core principles and Treaty of SADC, the African Union and the United Nations Charters.
12. The Extraordinary Summit of the Organ Troika therefore calls on the African Union and the International Community not to recognize the appointment of Mr Rajoelina and put pressure to bear on the de facto authorities in Madagascar to return that country back to democratic and constitutional rule in the shortest time possible.
13. The Extraordinary Summit of the Organ Troika further calls on all stakeholders to refrain from taking any actions that are unconstitutional, inconsistent with the democratic values of our region and the continent or lead to further loss of lives, injury or destruction of property.
14. Consistent with the Treaty of SADC Article 5 (b) and (c), SADC shall continue to promote common political values, systems and other shared values which are transmitted through institutions which are democratic, legitimate and effective. SADC will continue to engage all concerned parties in Madagascar with a view to facilitating the efforts to peacefully resolve the current political crisis in the country.
15. The Executive Secretary of SADC is mandated by the Troika Organ Summit immediately to engage the AU, UN, and all other role players to help define a comprehensive and coherent strategy that will lead to the resolution of the problem. The Executive Secretary is to report back to the Troika within 7 days.
16. In the event of non cooperation and non compliance by the de facto regime in Madagascar, the Summit of the Organ Troika shall recommend to Summit to consider imposing appropriate sanctions and/or use all relevant resources available to restore order in Madagascar.
Copyright © 2009 Southern African Development Community. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).
MADAGASCAR: Starting to count the humanitarian cost
A World Food Programme initiative provides food for work in the parched south
JOHANNESBURG, 18 March 2009 (IRIN) - Madagascar's political infighting has drawn international attention, but aid agencies warn that the ongoing tug-of-war for power should not detract from soaring food prices, severe drought in the south, and the destruction left by two tropical cyclones.
"Children are afraid of attending school, food prices have increased, leaving the most vulnerable hungry, and the lack of environmental sanitation in town increases the risk of epidemics," Bruno Maes, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) representative in Madagascar, told IRIN.
Weeks of opposition protests and turmoil have claimed the lives of some 170 people, while around 1,000 have been injured. Rumour and speculation ran rife in local and international media this week as opposition and military leaders moved in on government and presidential buildings.
By most accounts the army had put its weight behind Andry Rajoelina, opposition leader and former mayor of the capital, Antananarivo, driving his bid to oust incumbent President Marc Ravalomanana. The military, in contravention of the country's constitution, then reportedly handed power to Rajoelina.
The move was met with international condemnation, including by the Southern African Development Community, the African Union, the European Commission and the US, raising speculation that the coup-style power grab might result in a freeze on international aid.
With around 70 percent of Madagascar's population scraping by on less than a dollar a day, this is a conflict the country can ill afford. Although the socio-economic challenges facing Madagascar fuelled the unrest, the crisis has severely destabilized the economy.
The unrest has brought a slump in tourism, worth US$390 million in 2008, and some 25,000 jobs are critically at risk, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The crisis hit the cities hardest
"Loss of employment due to the political crisis threatens to push the vulnerable poor and lower-middle classes into destitution. For those who are already indigent, estimated at over 500,000 ... the current crisis has put even the most basic foodstuffs beyond their reach," Krystyna Bednarska, head of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), told IRIN.
In the urban centres ... just after the start of the violent demonstrations, drastic increases in the prices of most basic essentials were reported.
"In the urban centres ... just after the start of the violent demonstrations, drastic increases in the prices of most basic essentials were reported." Rural areas seemed largely unaffected.
Maes said since the onset of the unrest there had been very little or no garbage collecting and the accumulation of waste in the capital's streets were cause for concern over public health; with large numbers of urban poor living in cramped conditions, the risk of waterborne diseases and diarrhoea outbreaks was becoming serious.
Drought stalks the south
Late rains in Madagascar's arid south are prolonging the lean season in the area. "This means a caseload of 150,000 people that will need assistance until at least June," Bednarska said.
According to the latest Situation Report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), "WFP and partners are already intensifying Food for Work (FFW), school feeding and general feeding activities in the drought-affected south," while "the national nutrition agency (ONN) is stepping up activities to respond to the deteriorating nutritional situation."
Access to potable water in the south is also worrying. "Water collected from rivers is sold at high prices [US$0.20 for 10 litres, one aid worker said] and some vulnerable groups have started using sea water for cooking." Cases of diarrhoea had been increasing as of mid-February, the report noted.
Forgotten cyclones
Madagascar was hit by two tropical cyclones a week before the protests began: "Eric" struck the east coast on 18 January, followed by "Fanele", which made landfall on the west coast two days later. Extensive damage and flooding across the island affected more than 60,000 people and left more than 4,000 homeless.
"The unrest created further challenges to the ability of humanitarian agencies to mobilize an effective response to the areas affected by the cyclones, leaving tens of thousands of people without assistance," the International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies said in a February statement.
The OCHA report noted that "assistance to affected population is ongoing" and some 1,400 people remain sheltered in temporary facilities."
Bracing for the worst
Given the numerous challenges facing the humanitarian community in Madagascar, Bednarska warned that current in-country resources would be insufficient to cover humanitarian needs.
"Additional funding is urgently required. WFP's resourcing shortfall to address immediate food needs in the drought-affected south and the urban centres is around $13 million, she said.
An "Immediate Needs Action Plan" [an emergency funding initiative], coordinated by the OCHA office, is being prepared by all UN agencies and their partners.
International aid agencies were also preparing for the eventuality that things could get worse: "Inter-agency efforts have been deployed to elaborate a number of different scenarios, around which contingency plans are being developed," Bednarska said.
Dia Styvanley Soa, spokeswoman for Madagascar's disaster management authority (BNGRC), said there was clearly a gap to be filled: "I wish BNGRC was involved in this 'humanitarian aspect' of the political crisis but, 'til now, there is nothing; no contingency planning, no response."
Report can be found online at:
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=83534
This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the Pan-African News Wire
A dramatic change...then new challenge for Madagascar
Courtesy of the Nigerian Guardian
Weeks of opposition protests and turmoil on the Indian Ocean island have killed more than 135 people, crippled tourism and left former President Marc Ravalomanana in the lurch. Using agency reports, Ben Ukwuoma writes on the dramatic victory for the young politician, Andry Rajoelina who was sacked as mayor of the capital only last month.
THE streets of the capital were calm Wednesday, but residents were worried. The turmoil had triggered waves of violent protests, looting and a military mutiny that have left at least 100 people dead since January.
Many of the residents were worried about the legality of the 34-year old opposition leader Andry Rajoelina's presidency and the reaction of the international community.
Madagascar's highest court on Wednesday endorsed the Army's move to replace the toppled president with his rival, but the African Union was considering whether it constituted a coup.
Supporters of opposition leader Rajoelina had approached the constitutional court to affirm the army's action.
In a radio address Wednesday, the court declared that Rajoelina "is serving as president of the republic," even though at 34, Rajoelina is six years too young to do so under the country's constitution.
The court gave no reasons, saying only that Marc Ravalomanana had vacated his presidential post and left the military to make the decision on how it would be filled.
Tahiana Rakotoniaina, a financial consultant, said he did not believe Rajoelina was capable of running the country and he did not believe Ravalomanana's supporters would accept defeat quietly.
"Will we never have democratic change?" asked Antananarivo resident Mirana Razanaparany. "Why does it always have to come from the streets?"
"I'm not sure it's really over," said Emeline Raharinandrasana, a retired office worker.
"Is this new authority legal? If not, will the international community continue to help us? That worries me the most."
But Dieudonne Randriantsoa, a teacher, said the international community would in the end have to "accept the will of the people ... as happened in 2002."
Ravalomanana clashed with former President Didier Ratsiraka when both claimed the presidency after a disputed December 2001 election.
After low-level fighting split the country between two governments, two capitals and two presidents, Ratsiraka fled to France in June 2002.
Ravalomanana won re-election in 2006, though two opposition candidates tried to challenge the validity of that vote.
The African Union was examining whether what had taken place was a coup, which would lead to Madagascar's automatic suspension from the continentwide body, said Bruno Nongoma Zidouemba, temporary chairman of the AU's Peace and Security Council. He said a meeting on the issue was set for next week.
France, Madagascar's former colonial power and current main donor, said Tuesday that two years was "too long" to wait for elections.
"Our hope is that Madagascar returns quickly to normal constitutional order," Foreign Ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier added at a daily media briefing.
Regional power South Africa expressed concern on behalf of the Southern African Development Community at "unconstitutional attempts undertaken by the opposition that led to the resignation of the democratically elected president of a SADC member country."
The European Union has said it will cut aid and shun anyone coming to power by force.
Zambia called for the immediate suspension of Madagascar from the African Union (AU) and Southern African Development Community (Sadc).
Zambian Foreign Minister Kabinga Pande also told a news conference in Lusaka: "Zambia rejects the unconstitutional change of government in Madagacscar."
SADC had condemned in advance any direct seizure of power by Mr Rajoelina - who has never stood for national office - while the AU had urged the army not to hand over to him, saying this would amount to a coup.
In a tense statement, United States said it is deeply concerned by the recent political violence in Madagascar. "We call on Madagascar's leaders and the Malagasy people to exercise restraint and avoid all further violence. We urge an immediate resumption of dialogue among the principal political actors and the government. The United States reaffirms its commitment to Madagascar's democratic development, emphasizing that calm and dialogue be restored in order to effectively pursue development. We expect all parties in this conflict to respect the constitution of Madagascar as they try to resolve their political differences," It stated.
The BBC's Jonah Fisher, in the capital Antananarivo, says the legal decision is part of a process of legitimising Mr Rajoelina as president after he effectively seized power with the backing of his supporters and the military.
According to a legal document obtained by AFP news agency, the constitutional court "proclaims that Mr Andry Rajoelina exercises the attributions of the president of the Republic as stated by the provisions of the constitution.
But according to Malagasy law, the head of parliament's upper house should have taken over after the president's resignation and organised an election within two months.
Rajoelina earlier told the BBC's World Today programme: "There must not be a power vacuum."
He promised elections within the next 18 to 24 months and, asked why polls could not be held earlier, said he did not want "history to repeat itself".
"We'll have to change the constitution," he told the BBC. "We'll have to analyse the law on political parties, the electoral code; we need time to do all this."
Asked about the future of Mr Ravalomanana - whose whereabouts a day after his ousting were unclear - Mr Rajoelina said that was up to the judiciary.
It has basically been a power struggle between President Ravalomanana and opposition leader Rajoelina.
Rajoelina said the President was a tyrant who misspent public money, while Mr Ravalomanana's supporters called his young rival a troublemaker.
Ravalomanana, 59, is a self-made millionaire who founded a business empire after starting out by hawking yogurt off the back of a bicycle in Antananarivo's backstreets.
He first came to power in 2002 after disputed election results triggered eight months of nationwide civil unrest which brought Madagascar's economy to its knees. The incumbent, Didier Ratsiraka, fled into exile in France. Many Malagasy say Ravalomanana has since appeared to lose touch with the majority of the island's 20 million people.
Rajoelina on the other hand, is a baby-faced 34-year-old former DJ and businessman with media interests, including ownership of a TV and radio station. Under the existing constitution, he is six years too young to stand in a presidential election.
But some residents have expressed fears that Rajoelina is being supported by political heavyweights from the country's past - allies of long-time leader Didier Ratsiraka, who lost an equally bitter and power divisive power struggle against Ravalomanana in 2002, following disputed elections.
But Rajoelina insists that he is only acting on the people's call for change.
To his supporters, Rajoelina represents a youthful and charismatic new breed of politician on the world's fourth largest island.
Political tensions started rising in December after the government closed down Rajoelina's privately owned TV station, Viva. It aired an interview with former President Ratsiraka.
Rajoelina said the closure was a violation of free speech and accused Ravalomanana of abusing Madagascar's democracy.
After Rajoelina was elected as mayor of the capital, Antananarivo, he tried to use this power base to propel him to the country's top job - exactly the same career trajectory as Mr Ravalomanana.
The former government sacked Mr Rajoelina from his job at city hall in February.
The final straw for many was the mooted plan to lease one million acres in the south of the country to the Korean firm Daewoo for intensive farming.
Malagasy people have deep ties with their land and this was seen by many as a betrayal by their President.
Opposition leader Andry Rajoelina emerged from hiding on Saturday to tell his supporters he was giving President Marc Ravalomanana four hours to step down. He has been under U.N. protection since fleeing attempts to arrest him last week.
A strong groundswell of resentment towards Ravalomanana already existed after he bought a new $60 million jet last year -- while 70 percent of locals live on less than $2 a day. Since the opposition leader launched a campaign of strikes and protests in late January, about 135 people have been killed.
"I am worried we are descending into civil war. Each side is calling on their supporters," said Victor Razafindratsima, crowding round a newspaper kiosk with other anxious residents of the capital
He accused Ravalomanana of misspending public funds and undermining democracy on this Indian Ocean island off Africa's southeast coast.
Some of Rajoelina's protests led to deadly clashes. The deaths of at least 25 civilians last month cost Ravalomanana the support of a faction of the military, and a mutiny spread and gained popular support.
After weeks of insisting he would never resign, Ravalomanana announced Tuesday afternoon he was ceding control to the military.
Almost as he spoke, Rajoelina was parading triumphantly through the capital surrounded by armed soldiers and an adoring crowd after seizing control of one of the city's presidential palaces and taking the oath of office there as president of what he called a transitional authority. Rajoelina has promised new presidential elections within two years.
In a ceremony broadcast from a military camp in the capital late Tuesday, Vice-Admiral Hyppolite Rarison Ramaroson said he and two other generals rejected Ravalomanana's attempt earlier that day to transfer power to the military.
Ramaroson said the military instead was installing the president's bitter rival Rajoelina as the country's leader.
Under President Ravalomanana, the country has been taking its first tentative steps into the global market after decades of socialism.
Multinational corporations including Rio Tinto and Exxon Mobil have arrived, pouring millions of dollars into government coffers.
The president himself has seen his own business interests - which range from dairy products to cooking oil - rise and rise. But food and fuel have become more expensive while the foreign funds have not improved the quality of life for most people.
Some 70 percent of Madagascar's 20 million population live on less than $1 a day, and the opposition has tapped into growing resentment.
The African Union, whose next summit was scheduled to take place in Madagascar, has condemned the "attempted coup d'etat" in Madagascar.
Although the socio-economic challenges facing Madagascar fuelled the unrest, the crisis has severely destabilized the economy. __The unrest has brought a slump in tourism, worth US$390 million in 2008, and some 25,000 jobs are critically at risk, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). __
The crisis hit the cities hardest __"Loss of employment due to the political crisis threatens to push the vulnerable poor and lower-middle classes into destitution. For those who are already indigent, estimated at over 500,000 ... the current crisis has put even the most basic foodstuffs beyond their reach," Krystyna Bednarska, head of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), said. _
"In the urban centres ... just after the start of the violent demonstrations, drastic increases in the prices of most basic essentials were reported." Rural areas seemed largely unaffected.
__Maes said since the onset of the unrest there had been very little or no garbage collecting and the accumulation of waste in the capital's streets were cause for concern over public health; with large numbers of urban poor living in cramped conditions, the risk of waterborne diseases and diarrhoea outbreaks was becoming serious. __Drought stalks the south __Late rains in Madagascar's arid south are prolonging the lean season in the area. "This means a caseload of 150,000 people that will need assistance until at least June," Bednarska said.
__According to the latest Situation Report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), "WFP and partners are already intensifying Food for Work (FFW), school feeding and general feeding activities in the drought-affected south," while "the national nutrition agency (ONN) is stepping up activities to respond to the deteriorating nutritional situation."
__Access to potable water in the south is also worrying. "Water collected from rivers is sold at high prices US$0.20 for 10 litres, one aid worker said and some vulnerable groups have started using sea water for cooking." Cases of diarrhoea had been increasing as of mid-February, the report noted. __Forgotten cyclones __Madagascar was hit by two tropical cyclones a week before the protests began: "Eric" struck the east coast on 18 January, followed by "Fanele", which made landfall on the west coast two days later. Extensive damage and flooding across the island affected more than 60,000 people and left more than 4,000 homeless. __"The unrest created further challenges to the ability of humanitarian agencies to mobilize an effective response to the areas affected by the cyclones, leaving tens of thousands of people without assistance," the International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies said in a February statement. __
The OCHA report noted that "assistance to affected population is ongoing" and some 1,400 people remain sheltered in temporary facilities." __
Madagascar has been plagued by political unrest in the past.It suffered some of its worst violence after the 2001 presidential elections when then President Ratsiraka refused to accept defeat by Ravalomanana, who had also served as the capital's mayor.
For the moment, it seems as though Mr Rajoelina holds all the cards. He has said he will hold elections within 24 months - and change the constitution.
The African Union might well suspend Madagascar until elections are held.
It remains to be seen whether Western donors will cut off aid.
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