By Bernard Londoni
Madagascar’s political crisis has deepened since March 2009, following the coming to power of Andry Rajoelina, the then mayor of Antananarivo who ousted former President Marc Ravalomanana through the backing of the military. Rajoelina became the strongman of Antananarivo as Ravalomanana left the Island. Since then, political tensions increased and the exiled president who is now living in South Africa continues to press so hard for his return to the political scene in the Island he said he loves so much. But the path to his return has left Malagasy people polarized and the political stalemate is increasing. What has further complicated the matter is the stand that the two other former presidents- Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy have taken vis-a-vis to the crisis. Ratsiraka and Zafy have joined forces with Ravalomanana to oppose the rule of Rajoelina.
The African Union (AU), France and South Africa who are involved in resolving the crisis have found themselves caught between the politics and their passion for bringing the parties to agree to a political settlement. In collaboration with the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the UA dispatched former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano to mediate the conflict. Things however have not turned well as expected by the mediator. The Chissano’s mediation team has produced the Maputo and Addis Ababa agreements which called for power-sharing between Rajoelina and the former three presidents’ camps. Due to complex issues surrounding the politics between Rajoelina and the three former presidents and their parties, the agreements did not stand long. Rajoelina unilaterally decided to throw everything behind the bus and initiated his own way to resolve the crisis. He has blocked through all means within his power the return of Ravalomanana and the two other former presidents to the Island.
