Madagascar in 2009

Madagascar in 2009

Area: 587,051 sq km (226,662 sq mi)
Population (2009 est.): 19,625,000
Capital: Antananarivo
Chief of state and head of government: President Marc Ravalomanana, assisted by Prime Minister Charles Rabemananjara; President Andry Rajoelina, assisted by Prime Ministers Monja Roindefo from March 17, Eugène Mangalaza from October 10, Cécile Manorohanta from December 18, and, from December 20, Albert Camille Vital

The early months of 2009 in Madagascar saw more than 100 people killed in weeks of violent street protests against Pres. Marc Ravalomanana, who was accused of having ruled in an authoritarian way and having misspent public money. The protests culminated in what was widely regarded as a coup in March, when soldiers pledged their support to Andry Rajoelina, a former mayor of Antananarivo who had led the opposition to Ravalomanana. Ravalomanana resigned and handed power to the military; he then fled to the African mainland. The military transferred power in a matter of hours to Rajoelina, who was quickly sworn in as president. The international community refused to accept the new government because it had come to power illegitimately, and Madagascar was suspended from both the African Union and the Southern African Development Community. In August international mediators led by former Mozambican president Joaquim Chissano met with Rajoelina and Ravalomanana and their predecessors, Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy, in Maputo, Mozam. An agreement was reached on a power-sharing government for a transitional period of 15 months, during which legislative and presidential elections would be held. Ravalomanana, who had been convicted of abuse of power in a judgment handed down in Madagascar in June, would be given amnesty from prosecution. The four met again to allocate positions in the new government but were unable to agree. Rajoelina then unilaterally appointed what he claimed was a national unity government, with himself remaining president, but his actions were widely criticized. Additional talks were held, and on October 6 it was announced that an agreement had been reached on positions in the new government. Although an agreement was signed on November 7—under which Rajoelina was to remain as president but rule with two copresidents—Rajoelina did not participate in the final round of power-sharing talks held in early December, and he formally abandoned the power-sharing deal altogether on December 20. Meanwhile, the economy of the world’s fourth largest island suffered, with tourism in the doldrums and unemployment rising.

Christopher Saunders