Madagascar: Mayor declares president

  1. Posted on Sunday 1 February 2009 - 07:05
    KingsleyKobo
    Image of KingsleyKobo
    Kingsley Kobo, AfricaNews reporter in Abidjan, Ivory Coast
    The mayor of Madagascar's capital Antananarivo, Andry Rajoelina, proclaimed himself as the new president Saturday afternoon before thousands of his roaring sympathizers at 13 Mai square, media said. AfricaNews' reporter said the agitated political drama would climax into a dreadful chaos.
    madagascar
    Rajoelina had earlier announced on Radio France International (RFI) Saturday morning that he was deciding to take charge of the country’s affairs by forming a transition government.

    After declaring himself president, the 34-year-old mayor ordered the closure of all government ministries, and called on officials of Madagascan central bank to cease issuing money in the name of the incumbent government.

    To legitimize his actions, Rajoelina said he “will put forward before the parliament a motion of impeachment against Marc Ravalomanana (incumbent president) for his diverse violations of our constitution.”

    He ended his proclamation with a threat of issuing international arrest warrants against those who would be fomenting trouble after Saturday’s development – referring to his adversaries.

    Once again, like in previous manifestations, today’s gigantic gathering of the mayor’s sympathizers was neither dispersed nor guarded by security forces, our reporter said.

    RFI reports that the police and armed forces were invisible throughout the capital, Antananarivo; before, during and after Rajoelina declarations. At the end, the thousands of excited supporters dispersed peacefully to embark on their regular activities.

    No reaction has come from the government.

Latest News

  1. AFCON: 46 hurt in Zambia victory celebrations09/02Over 40 casualty cases were recorded Wednesday night at Zambia's University Teaching Hospital (UTH) after post-match celebrations turned violent …
  2. African Peer Review Mechanism making progress08/02In 2003 the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), the continental development plan, initiated the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM…
  3. Combating HIV infections among African women08/02With a lack of knowledge and power, African women continue to bear the brunt of HIV infections.
  4. Legume cultivation booms in Western Kenya07/02Small Holder Farmers (SHFs) who traditionally relied on seed companies for all their seeds are now bulking their own legume seeds for their farms.
  5. Malawi vendors chase out Chinese07/02Vendors in Kalonga, the Northern district of Malawi, on Wednesday petitioned the District Commissioner to flash out all Chinese nationals who are doin…
  6. Zim: Informal sector urged to join HIV battle05/02While the Harare City council is busy engaging in running battles with city vendors, Health Minister has called for authorities to devise ways to form…
  7. Elections: Wole Soyinka warns Mugabe, Wade03/02The Nigerian Nobel Prize winner for literature said heads of states who are trying to cling to power suffer the same fate as the dictators who were sw…
  8. AU elections rescheduled for June in Malawi01/02Following a deadlock during Monday's African Union elections, with a tie between former wife to South African president Jacob Zuma, Home Affairs …
  9. Senegal in turmoil as protest intensifies01/02Hundreds of anti-government protesters Tuesday gathered in the central Dakar, Senegal to show their dissatisfaction over the incumbent president Abdou…
  10. Zimbabwe’s inflation still favourable -…01/02Zimbabwe's annual headline inflation still compared favourably with economies in the region, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono said o…
  11. AFCON 2012: Sudan qualifies after four decades31/01The Sudanese national team has sealed a historic win over the Stallions of Burkina Faso.
  12. Senegalese opposition to intensify protests31/01Opposition and civil society groups in Senegal have vowed to increase their fight against incumbent President Abdoulaye Wade's presidential bid.
  13. Malawi: Rights coalition condemn stripping of…30/01The 39 members of the Solidarity for African Women's Rights Coalition based in 18 African countries have vehemently condemned the stripping of wo…
  14. Kenya to deworm five million children annually30/01Kenya launched the second phase of its national deworming programme at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2012, aiming to treat 5 million childre…
  15. Benin’s Yayi Boni is AU’s new…30/01President Yayi Boni of Benin Republic has been elected chairperson of the African Union in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa
News archive