Armed forces: when an unknown individual becomes the icon of neutrality of men in military fatigues

The Malagasy militaries have repeatedly topped the headlines since the putsch back in mid-March in Madagascar and following the mutiny of the CAPSAT camp. The young present president of the High Authority of Transition, Andry Rajoelina, actually owes his rise to power to rogue militaries, as Marc Ravalomanana had to go into exile in mid march 2009. 

Ever since, the armed forces have, as a matter of fact, become the basis of the HAT authority. Prime minister Monja Roindefo is rather proud of managing the “centralization of the armed forces’ command”, following the putsch of March 17th. On this account, he is definitely turning down any allegation of a putsch in the Great Isle and that the current political unstability together with the polarization of the armed forces are a major risk for the country in general but more particularly for the HAT. 

During the latest weeks, the army’s neutrality and its “divorce” from politicians has become a very sensitive topic.  

A meeting initiated by the Defence ministry and the representatives of every military academy promotion took place on the 18th of September in the capital city. Once again, it has been all about “political neutrality” and “cohesion” for the newly talkative dumb green machine. 

Since some weeks, Intervention Forces’ captain Roger Luc has been quite involuntarily made the icon of this neutrality. Without craving for dazzling under the spotlights, this officer has become famous by standing between Manandafy Rakotonirina and the men of the special Task force (FIS) commanded by both of the famous lieutenant colonels Charles Andrianasoavina and Lylison René, at the international airport of Ivato.  

Manandafy Rakotonirina was, then, back from the second leg of the Maputo Summit. As the men of the FIS, who arrested him in very criticized circumstances four months ago, were in for giving a piece of their mind to Manandafy, captain Roger Luc interfered energetically, alone and unarmed. This snapshot has remained in many memories.  

Ever since, simple citizens, accustomed to see the FIS soldiers go on a rampage back and forth, have begun to admit that the army could be represented by something else but a putsch, violent repressions, or by arbitrary arrests.  

Officers are currently straining to restore the army’s lost value. In spite of all speeches praising the army’s unity, the militaries are convinced that the danger is on their heels. At the time of the Maputo summit, when Andry Rajoelina boasted to be having the army’s endorsement in order to justify his resistance, the mediator of the SADC, the Mozambican former president, Joaquim Chissano, definitely had it all right to reply that during his visit in Antananarivo, he has seen “two armies”. The risk of implosion is more than real.