Madagascar president 'to resign'

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: BBC

Madagascar's President Marc Ravalomanana is to stand down and hand power to the military, sources in the president's office have told the BBC.

It comes hours after opposition leader Andry Rajoelina installed himself in the president's offices, seized on Monday by pro-opposition troops.

Earlier, a number of government ministers quit, as power ebbed away from the president.

The crisis on the Indian Ocean island has left 100 people dead since January.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7948196.stm

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From the Washington Post/Reuters:

Madagascar's President Marc Ravalomanana handed power to a navy admiral on Tuesday after a power struggle with the opposition on the Indian Ocean island, a presidential aide said.

"The president has handed power to the military," spokesman Andry Ralijaona said. "In this case, it is the elder of the highest rank and I understand that is Hyppolite Ramaroson."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/17/AR2009031700358.html

[raccoon]

1. Madagascar president hands power over to military

Source: Associated Press



By LOVASA RABARY-RAKOTONDRAVONY, Associated Press Writer – 1 min ago

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar – Madagascar's president handed over power Tuesday — but not to the rival who plunged this Indian Ocean island nation into weeks of turmoil with his bid for power.

In a radio address Tuesday, President Marc Ravalomanana said he was ceding power to the military.

"After deep reflection, I have decided to dissolve the government and give up power so that a military directorate can be established," he said. "This decision was very difficult and very hard, but it had to be made. We need calm and peace to develop our country."

An aide to Ravalomanana said the military directorate would be made up of veteran, high-ranking military leaders who would organize a national conference that would be responsible for holding elections within two years. Ravalomanana's term would have ended in 2011.





Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090317/ap_on_re_af/af_madagascar

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Guess he's decided he can't keep everybody under control, and will probably fly the coop to Paraguay or someplace.

[Robbien]

2. It is really hard to find background on this story

All the news reports keep talking about is the power struggle between the two men.

No articles on why the current president sucks. No articles on who supports the opposition.

From drubs and drabs around the intertubes it appears the current (now resigned) president is a strong privatizer. He has an aggressive privatisation plan in the works for all basic social services and mineral resources. The spark leading to this civil unrest is the latest privatization of over half the farm land of Madagascar. He sold the million acres on a 99 year lease to Daewoo who plans on raising corn for export to Korea. (meanwhile sixty percent of the population of Madagascar is mal-nourished)

It appears the opposition leader is not a champion of the people. He is just a very rich opportunist who sees an opening to grab the presidency.

Or not. It is very hard to tell what the story is.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. The president who resigned is said to be rich too

Under President Ravalomanana, the country has been taking its first tentative steps into the global market after decades of socialism.

Multinational corporations including Rio Tinto and Exxon Mobil have arrived, pouring millions of dollars into government coffers.

The president himself has seen his own business interests - which range from dairy products to cooking oil - rise and rise.

But food and fuel have become more expensive while the foreign funds have not improved the quality of life for most people.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7935682.stm

Also:

Ravalomanana had proposed a referendum on his rule after public outrage over a massacre of 28 civilian protesters when the army was ordered to open fire on an anti-government demonstration in February. But the opposition rejected the referendum and issued a warrant for Ravalomanana's arrest for allegedly violating the constitution, including hiring mercenaries to prop up his government.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/17/madagascar-president-ravalomanana-resigns

[No Elephants]

3. Military directorate? How is that different from a military dictatorship?

[Robbien]

6. In this case the military doesn't want to govern

It just doesn't want the current president to govern and removed him. The military doesn't plan on backing the opposition guy either.

They will just provide security until an election is held.

Or so I understand.

[No Elephants]

7. Thank you for the explanation.

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. Madagascar military arrests generals after handover of power

Antanananrivo - Madagascar's mutinous army leadership arrested the navy vice-admiral and four other senior military officers shortly after President Marc Ravalomanana said he was handing over his powers to them after coming under pressure to resign.

A spokeswoman for opposition leader Andry Rajoelina confirmed to Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa that the army, which is backing the self- declared leader, had arrested vice-admiral Hippolyte Ramaroson Rarison and four other senior officers.

'That's right,' said spokeswoman Annick Andriananpianina. Asked why they had been arrested, she said: 'Because they have betrayed the nation and the people. These are the people who have been corrupted by the president.'

Earlier, a declaration from the embattled Ravalomanana read out on radio said he was dissolving government and transferring his powers to a military board headed by vice-admiral Hippolyte Rarison Ramaroson, while adding that the officers had rejected his offer.

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/africa/news/article_1465188.php/Madagascar_military_arrests_generals_after_handover_of_power__Extra__