ANTANANARIVO – Jubilant supporters cheered the installation on Saturday of Madagascar’s army-backed new leader Andry Rajoelina – but foreign ambassadors did not attend due to world condemnation of his takeover.
Music blasted and military marksmen stood on rooftops at the ceremony attended by 40,000 people in the main sports stadium of the Indian Ocean island’s sweltering capital Antananarivo.
Envoys had intended to snub the event, to underline global disapproval of the manner of Mr Rajoelina’s rise, but his foreign minister said they were not invited anyway. “The government is going to try and negotiate with them,” said Nyhasina Andriamanjato.
Mr Rajoelina (34) took over after leading months of opposition protests against President Marc Ravalomanana. That unrest killed at least 135 people, scared away tourists and unsettled investors in the fast-developing mining and oil sectors. Mr Ravalomanana (59) handed over to the military, who in turn conferred power on Mr Rajoelina to be president.
After being introduced to the crowd by Madagascar’s constitutional court’s top judge, Mr Rajoelina said his priorities were to combat poverty and ensure security. “My first priority is to improve people’s lives,” he said.
In the strongest show of displeasure from abroad, the African Union has suspended Madagascar, which lies off the continent’s east coast and has a history of volatile politics.
Major western powers including the United States and the European Union have termed Mr Rajoelina’s rise a coup d’etat and called for early elections. Several nations have suspended aid.
“To the leaders of all our foreign partners, please know that Madagascar is the friend of all nations,” Mr Rajoelina said, adding he would not change Madagascar’s free-market economics.
“We aspire to new hope for liberty. We seek a new direction for our country . . . [But] we will respect financial orthodoxy.” Africa’s youngest and newest president is carefully calling himself “president of the transitional authority” because of the questions over the legality of his rise to power. He is is six years too young to be president, according to Madagascar’s constitution, and is taking the presidency without a popular vote. The constitutional court, however, has endorsed him as national leader.
He has promised elections within two years, and the new government very deliberately termed Saturday’s ceremony an “installation” rather than a “swearing-in”.
Washington has suspended all non-humanitarian aid to Madagascar, whose budget is 70 per cent funded from abroad. Stung by international reaction, Mr Rajoelina’s camp says it is unfair to criticise a movement that fought for liberty on behalf of Madagascar’s 20 million people. As well as the crucial military backing, Mr Rajoelina has widespread popular support.– (Reuters)