Niels Marquardt or the unbreakable American wall

The United States and France are actually adopting totally opposed positions in this Malagasy crisis: the formers are restricting their role to observation, the latter are poking their nose and the rest of the head in it. Ambassador Marquardt’s simple stand is, however, proving to have a significant influence on the transitional match. The diplomat recalled that the ideal solution, according to the international community, remains the implementation of previously signed agreements. “Signatories as well as partner countries have to respect them” he argued.  

Niels Marquardt appeared realistic, and conceded that other options are remaining to be assessed as potential solutions to the crisis The United States are ready to recommend a Malagasy home grown solution based on a compulsory mile cornerstone: the consensus. The American ambassador has, thereupon, no magic card up his sleeve, but remains opened to the other members of the international community, like France. The United States are fully supportive of the International Contact Group shaped up by the African Union. As for the sanctions targeting the transitional regime’s top figures, Niels Marquardt does not rule their potential extension out.  

The pressure upon the HAT is, on this account, maintained. The American ambassador believes the dictating authority to be recognized neither by the international community nor by a large part of the Malagasy nation. There is no legality and no legitimacy for a putsch originated junta, diplomatically called “an unconstitutional change led transitional government”. Niels Marquardt is consequently standing tall on the HAT road by reminding that any unilateral electoral process is worsening the situation. The United States are recommending the path of reconciliation and consensus to the Malagasy nation, prior to the organization of a democratic election.  

The American ambassador’s strict stand is absolutely not to the Rajoelina mobility’s liking. Some proxies HAT are even barking threats against US interests as retaliation. The dictating authority thought to have done away with the Marquardt issue following president Obama’s decision to suspend Madagascar from the AGOA, the development opportunity  under the shape of customs advantage granted to African countries, as well as from the Millenium Development Fund which used to supply scores of development projects. These measures, allegedly, held against “the Malagasy people” was meant to be turned into an argument against the world’s leading superpower, but it finally became a shot in the dark. The deterrents targeting ambassador Marquardt failed to silence the US diplomacy. 

Through the diplomatically drafted speech, the Malagasy crisis is often labeled as the result of geopolitical and world class economic power struggle in the court of big boys. The SADC regional community and the continental African Union are straining to get the leading roles instead of the big United States and the buzzing France. For being Madagascar’s leading social financial backer, the Americans were the first to suspend projects financing. The sanctions against the HAT are a reality, and its reluctance to play fair is taking its toll from the Malagasy people.