Transition’s charter – article 22: the generals are warning, the mediators are standing tall

Whatever has been signed is being signed, moving backwards and alter the contents of agreements and charters signed in Maputo is totally off the point. The pressing military request for the cancellation of the transition’s charter’s article 22 has been rejected by the Joint Mediation Group, formerly International Contact Group. 

« The article 22 is to remain in force, no one is going to alter it « , insisted Joaquim Chissano. « The concern is a light misunderstanding », he said, as trying to downsize the polemic’s extent on the topic. « For all actions that must be undertaken by the Malagasy, the same unique interpretation is paramount », added the SADC mediator. He emerged rather satisfied from the talks which he held with the army headquarters’ chief and officers, as being sure to have convinced them. 

Besides, this article of the transition’s charter is restraining neither the reflection Committee’s role nor its composition. As the main concern for the armed forces’ commands is to avoid the division while preserving the obvious unit, the Joint Mediation Group is temporizing . It is rather all about the designation of members of one of the transition’s institutions, with a rather political than a military command role. In clear words, the CRDSN members could eventually be army officers as well as civilians. 

The COGER, an association of retired generals, is appearing fiercer than their young cadets in charge of the armed forces, as it resents the implementation of the transition’s charter’s article 22. General Andrianome is categorical: political parties designating the CRDSN members can only bring division to the army. 

Doesn’t he deserve to be listened, as the one appointed as headquarters chief during the year 2002 political crisis before being replaced after the return to legality, when he is talking about the division of the army. General Andrianome doesn’t give a chance to the implementation of the transition’s charter’s article 22. « No mobility will dare to designate », he said. 

The COGER is assuming the role of the army’s mastermind and « raiamandreny », namely by opposing its veto to the article 22. According to General Andrianome, a soldier’s designation within the CRDSN, by political mobilities is unacceptable. He is thereupon deterring officers likely to be asked to be part of this transition’s institution. 

In order to deactivate a new crisis within the army, the Joint Mediation Group is promising that appendices will be added to the article 22. The armed forces’ reluctance to accept the political involvement in defence and the national security questions only has a single ground: the presence of the former « mutinous » officers loyal to the Rajoelina mobility in command.