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Political Instability in Madagascar as Election Nears; SADC Calls for International Community not to Recognize Results
January 26, 2010
By: Randi Zung | Printer Friendly

The political climate in Madagascar has grown increasingly unstable as the country’s upcoming March 2010 election nears.  Following the establishment of a transitional government in March 2009, promises of power-sharing between four groups have yet to be fulfilled.  President Andry Rajoelina, head of the current transitional government, has refused to continue to attend the power-sharing meetings and has also neglected to approve the appointments of opposition appointed candidates.  The four groups originally agreed upon the appointment of two co-presidents.  Ousted President Marc Ravalomanana now leads one of the three opposition groups.

In December 2009, Madagascan military-backed Rajoelina appointed retired army colonel Albert Camille Vital to the position of prime minister after dismissing Eugene Mangalaza after only two months in office, Voice of America reports.  Mangalaza was appointed by the three opposition groups.  In addition to the removal of Mangalaza, Rajoelina also announced that the country would be holding parliamentary elections in March 2010 and that a new constitution would be drafted.  Rajoelina, who is currently 35, is too young to run for president according to the country’s current constitution.  Critics have asserted that Rajoelina’s latest political maneuvers are a corrupt attempt to maintain his power. 

The recent developments have led to Madagascar being suspended from the African Union (AU) and Southern African Development Community (SADC).  AllAfrica reports that South African leaders have condemned Rajoelina’s March election plans.  Mozambican President Armando Guebuza, who faced allegations of election fraud in October 2009, called for Rajoelina to return to the power-sharing talks in order to reinstate constitutional rule in the Madagascar.  In a communiqué released by SADC, the group condemned the de facto government for organizing an election.  In addition, the communiqué also stated that the election should not be recognized as legitimate by the international community because the governing body that is organizing it did not gain power through democratic means: “Summit rejects any attempt to use democratic means, institutions and processes to legitimize Governments that came to power through unconstitutional means, and urges the international community, in particular the development partners, to support SADC's efforts to promote and sustain democracy in the region in general and Madagascar in particular.”

According to an article by Reuters, Rajoelina’s government announced that it would crackdown on opposition groups and other protestors who challenged the election.  In a televised statement a day after protestors marched on the presidential palace, Prime Minister Vital stated that anti-government protestors would face “draconian measures” if they continued to disrupt and destroy public order.  In addition to political unrest, Reuters also reports that the country has suffered from economic downturns, most importantly, the selling of the country’s oil having been delayed.  Negotiations with major oil companies have stalled since Ravalomanana’s overthrow.  Madagascar is also rich with other natural resources like nickel, cobalt and uranium.

Sources:
AllAfrica - Region Rejects Rajoelina's Election Plans
http://allafrica.com/stories/201001150317.html

Reuters - Madagascar government threatens opposition crackdown
http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE60609R20100107

Voice of America - Madagascar Political Crisis Deepens
http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/Madagascar-Political-Crisis-Deepens-79821937.html

Also See:
CIA World Factbook – Madagascar
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ma.html