Joy in Antsiranana; panic in Toamasina

Former president Didier Ratsiraka has vanished into thin air, or so it seems. Sources close to Ravalomanana report that the former dictator has likely left the country for the Seychelles, or other neighboring islands. A few of his close collaborators, including former ministers, and faithful advisers have also fled since the beginning of the week. They left Toamasina where a pro-Ravalomanana military offensive is currently underway, aimed at restoring order, and at putting the entire province under the authority of the new Head of State.

According to local sources, Toamasina has never experienced such chaos. Undoubtedly realizing that “the party is over”, the pro-Ratsiraka forces, and militia men are stirring up trouble, while the “big bosses” have already turned tail. Unidentified sources confirm that the militia men prevented at least two of Ratsiraka’s former ministers from getting aboard the “Mauritius Trochétia”, a Mauritian ocean liner. The militia men reportedly told them, “We will die together, here.”

To-date, governmental forces already control over 90% of the Island. Over the past few days, they have forced their way into Toamasina, since General Razafimandimby, the Joint Army Chief of Staff, has emphatically declared that there will be no cease-fire unless the rebels surrender unconditionally.

While Toamasina finds itself in chaos, and disarray, the atmosphere at Antsiranana is positively jubilant. The town’s inhabitants have been savoring the joys of Freedom since last Thursday, when the governmental forces took over the province’s government seat. However, they still need to rid the city and its surrounding areas of a few militia men, considered armed and dangerous, who seemed to have vanished into the countryside. Jaosoa Pascal, president of the special delegation, has officially replaced Gara Jean Robert, the pro-Ratsiraka governor who is also nowhere to be found. Just like in other liberated provinces, pro-Ravalomanana T-shirts and baseball caps have reappeared, at Antsiranana.

Translated by J. F. Razanamiadana