De facto President of Madagascar Andry Rajoelina and toppled President Marc Ravalomanana are to meet in South Africa on April 24 to discuss the transition to unity government. Rajoelina gave into the ultimatum presented to him by the armed forces last Monday.
In a televised speech on Thursday evening Rajoelina presented his basic roadmap which demonstrated he had been working hard the past few days in order to reopen a dialogue between the parties. The Malagasy President accepted an invitation from South African President Jacob Zuma. Rajoelina added that the South African meeting will be "the last chance" to find a negotiated solution to end the country’s crisis.
Earlier negotiations had led to the power sharing deal. The talks mediated by the African Union in Maputo were attended by Rajoelina and the three ex-presidents Ravalomanana, Mr Ratsiraka and Mr Zafywere. This time round however, Rajoelina wants to sit around the table only with Ravalomanana.
Ravalomanana disagrees and feels that the presence of both former presidents Ratiraka and Zafy is needed.
“Do not even think of any meeting if the Maputo agreement is not being implemented," he was quoted by l’Express, a local newspaper.
In his speech last Thursday Rajoelina said he was not opposed to implementing the Maputo agreement. Even without meeting Mr Ratsiraka and Mr Zafy, the de facto leader announced he would include all parties in a unity government immediately after the meeting in South Africa. He promised the parties of these ex-presidents will be invited to participate in the elections.
Source: Afrol News
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We should never forget that Andry Rajoelina grabbed power in a
"coup", and he maintains his grip through violence, intimidation...
and lies (see Amnesty International February 2010 report, or the
arbitrary arrests by Rajoelina's army, following the last pseudo coup
of this month).
Furthermore, we should never ignore that Rajoelina,
again and again, has not hold his own commitments, and Madagascar’s
commitments to international laws and conventions (see for instance
Mongabay’s article).
Composing and making room for TGV in any institution during the
transition would be a big mistake on the part of the international
community.
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