A political committee intending to reconcile Monja Roindefo and Andry Rajoelina

The time is critical. Four days following his « appointment », Eugene Mangalaza, supposed to be the Transition’s new Prime minister has no office yet. His predecessor, Monja Roindefo, has entrenched himself inside the palace of Mahazoarivo, now secured by heavily armed soldiers. 

Before making any decision, everyone certainly has rather wait for the State Council’s verdict in response to Monja Roindefo’s request which contested the new Prime minister’s appointment decree.  

Monja Roindefo is estimating that Eugene Mangalaza’s « nomination » remains illegal as long as the four political mobility leaders are failing to sign the agreement on the Transition’s decision making positions. There is actually a new course of events in the nameless struggle between both former makeshift friends, main masterminds of the putsch which pushed Marc Ravalomanana out into exile. 

It is henceforth clear. The dispute between Monja Roindefo and Andry Rajoelina could eventually end with a military confrontation. In all cases, the army has never ever been divided in Madagascar. The dismissed Prime minister has entrenched himself surrounded by hundreds of armed soldiers in his palace. The president of the HAT is hesitating as for the next move. The soldiers of the special Task Force (FIS locally), seemingly more faithful to Andry Rajoelina, are restricting their reaction to stating that no assault on the palace of Mahazoarivo is yet prepared. « No order in this sense has yet been given » confirmed the lieutenant colonel Lilyson René. Everything happening while, somewhere somehow, militaries close to the exiled president are keeping on prowling in expectation of the situation’s evolution. 

Being aware of the danger currently hovering over the HAT and the army, politicians, those who contributed to the putsch back in mid-March, have put a committee that will attempt to reconcile Andry Rajoelina and Monja Roindefo, in place. The committee is made, among others, of Richard Andriamanjato, Eugene Voninahitsy, Manassé Esoavelomandroso and Alain Ramaroson, the first figure to have hinted the necessity of a reconciliation process between both men. 

Patching up the broken glass might, however, prove rather difficult. Tension has only been shooting up during the latest days. In a very curious way, the State Council’s president has been swiftly replaced by the beginning of the week; one day after Monja Roindefo’s request concerning the new Prime minister’s appointment has been submitted. The course of the events will be up to the effect of this very much expected verdict.