1. Posted on Saturday 12 September 2009 - 11:40

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   AfricaNews Monitoring desk

   The African Union condemned Madagascar's Andry Rajoelina's decision to appoint a new government and said it may impose sanctions on the authorities and their supporters. The country has been rocked by turmoil since Rajoelina toppled former President Marc Ravalomanana from power in March this year.

   

   Under the terms of a deal agreed last month in Mozambique, the country's power-brokers were supposed to share out the top posts of president, vice president and prime minister to see the world's fourth largest island through to presidential polls.
   
   But with the rivals still deadlocked, Rajoelina's prime minister pressed ahead and made 31 appointments on Tuesday, keeping himself and Rajoelina in their posts.
   
   The AU's Peace and Security Council met in Ethiopia on Thursday and was briefed by the AU envoy to Madagascar.
   
   "Council expressed its deep concern at the sudden rise of tension in Madagascar following the unilateral decision made by the de facto authorities to establish what was termed a Government of National Unity without the participation of other political movements," the AU said in a statement, according to Reuters.
   
   The opposition and Southern African leaders have already refused to recognise the new administration, which Rajoelina says will work towards establishing a fourth republic ahead of presidential elections.
   
   "Council decided to meet later to assess the evolution of the situation in Madagascar with a view to taking appropriate measures, including targeted sanctions against the de facto authorities and their supporters," the AU said.
   
   It did not detail what sanctions it was considering, nor when the meeting would take place.
   
   When a military junta seized power in Mauritania, the African Union imposed measures including the denial of visas, travel restrictions and the freezing of assets belonging to individuals blamed for the power grab.
   

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Reactions

1. Posted on Wednesday 17 March 2010 22:17

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   rhaj

   

   
   1 berichten
   Lid sinds March 2010

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   IMHO, this sanction on Mr Rajoelina is just and justified, because of, not only, his "record" on Human Rights, as reported by Amnesty International, his record on environment, as reported by Mongabay, and his record on the economy, with Madagascar being suspended from AGOA and MCA, but also because of his non-respect of his own commitments, witnessed first-hand by the UA during the Maputo and Addis Abeba meetings.
   
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   "Amnesty International is concerned that human rights violations continue to be perpetrated in Madagascar as the political crisis persists. Unlawful killings, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, the arbitrary arrest and detention of political opponents and demonstrators and incessant attacks on journalists and the media, as well as lawyers have not been effectively investigated. Individuals suspected of being involved in the commission of these violations have not been brought to justice by the Malagasy authorities. The impunity that has surrounded these abuses gives the impression that they have been condoned by the authorities at the highest level."
   http://www.amnesty.org/en...7fef61/afr350012010en.pdf
   
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   "... the coup leaders take an increasingly active role in the plunder as a means to finance an upcoming election they hope will legitimize their power grab."
   http://news.mongabay.com/2010/0302-madagascar_shipment.html

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