Agreement of Maputo: retired generals are flying to the rescue of the colonels

The generals still on duty are obeying to the colonels who helped Andry Rajoelina to take power. The rule doesn’t apply to those who didn’t lose a thing of their prestige because they have already been retired. For their first media campaign, the Association of retired generals or COGER is backing the stand taken by armed forces’ commands, and is questioning again some arrangements of agreements and charters signed in Maputo. 

“The armed forces aren’t rejecting the Charter, however they don’t accept division processes as the designation of  the Defence and National Security Reflection Committee members by the four political mobilities”, explained Gen. Léon Razafitombo, president of the COGER. The generals are also displaying unease over some of the charter’s contents. 

On the political plan, the COGER is officially neutral and doesn’t strain to convince anyone. The association is opposing Marc Ravalomanana’s return in the country. Such a position could be interpreted as the capitalization of long term spite against the top leading armies’ supreme chief in retiring generals since the country’s independence. 

For general Razafitombo, the involvement of politicians in the management of the army is a very bad idea because it could be a source of division. “The return to violent unrest must be avoided” he said. The generals are confirming the conflict threat within the army if political agreements don’t fit in to their expectations. The rivalry between the pro-Rajoelina and the defenders of legality could poison things. 

The Transition’s Defence Minister appeared grateful to the retired generals. “During hard times, they took their responsibilities by helping us to do what we achieved and to assume the responsibilities we took at the time of all events that took place in the country”, stated Col Noel Rakotonandrasana. 

The COGER doesn’t hide its incentive “to defend the retired generals’ honour”. The association aims at promoting exchanges of views and common reflection over national life. At present, the former army stars are giving their endorsement or even their blessing to the “mutinous” colonels who participated into the political takeover back on March 17th, 2009. They have been claiming the army’s neutrality since the reconciliation of men in military fatigues at the time of the military assembly.