Madagascar Attack: Gov't and opposition pointing fingers at each other

Madagascar’s President Hery Rajaonarimampianina and opposition have distanced themselves from the Sunday’s grenade attack at the country’s national day celebrations which killed three people, injuring more than 80.

The blast struck the Mahamasina municipal stadium in Antananarivo at around 16:00 just as a free concert was starting, to mark the nation’s 56th anniversary of independence from France.

On the day of the attack, President Rajaonarimampianin hinted that was politically motivated.

“A view of divergence may exist between us, but acts of destabilization are unnecessary if the leader does not suit you… We do can not kill people like that.”

Prime Minister Olivier Mahafaly however seemed to quell the president’s remarks by saying the attack was targeted at the entire country.

“…. Independence Day is a celebration of all Malagasy. This is not the party of the president with other members of the government but it is the feast of all Malagasy. “

“It’s too easy to blame the opposition,” responded member of Parliament Guy Rivo Randroanarisoa, a supporter of former President Marc Ravalomanana, today considered one of the main opponents of ruling party.

Former Prime Minister from 2011 to 2014 Omer Beriziky, one of the critics of the current government said he was “not convinced that this is the divergence of views that drives people to commit such an atrocity.”

Madagascar is trying to slowly emerge from a long period of political instability, which began in 2009 when the mayor of Antananarivo Andry Rajoelina ousted President Marc Ravalomanana.

AFP