Madagascar's Transitional Government In Doubt

Madagascar supporters of President Marc Ravalomanana who was overthrown by the opposition and the military. The African Union has condemned the actions of the opposition and the military as a "coup."
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos

Madagascar’s transitional govt in doubt

AFP

MAPUTO--Three of Madagascar’s leading power brokers said yesterday they want to press ahead with a transition government, but their five days of talks were undermined as the island’s leader refused to attend.

Ousted president Marc Ravalomanana and former presidents Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy ended five days of talks in the Mozambican capital with an agreement on how to divide ministries in a new government meant to lead the Indian Ocean island out of crisis.

But the deal’s value remains in doubt because of the absence of Andry Rajoelina, the man who seized power in March with the military’s blessing.

After participating in three previous rounds of talks aimed at ending the ongoing crisis, Rajoelina sat out the most recent round, arguing that the new government should be formed in Madagascar.

The deal gives each leader six ministries, with Ravalomanana taking the commerce and foreign affairs ministries, Ratsiraka finance and energy, and Zafy environment and mines, according to documents issued after the talks.

The leaders left several key ministries for current strongman Rajoelina, including the justice, armed forces, and economy and industry portfolios.

But the empty chair left for Rajoelina at yesterday’s signing ceremony highlighted the absence of his signature on the resolution.

Former Mozambican president Joaquim Chissano, who led the mediation, called the deal "a step forward" and said: "Now we will see what the results are." Madagascar, a country that has been repeatedly shaken by crisis since the 1970s, was plunged into new turmoil late last year by street protests in the capital Antananarivo.A popular uprising forced Ravalomanana to hand power over to a military committee, which immediately transferred it to Rajoelina, the former mayor of Antananarivo.

In August the country’s main power brokers reached a deal to form a transitional government that would pave the way to new elections.

Last month, they agreed at a meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, that Rajoelina would preside over the transitional authority, with two co-presidents and a prime minister representing the other movements.