One thousand boots on the ground to crack down on violence in the South

Everyone did certainly not rejoice at the formal announcement of the onset of the military pacification campaign. Over the latest weeks, inhabitants of the island’s southern regions have already been reporting abuses from the very military units supposed to restore security where they stand. Telling peaceful peasants and outlaws apart actually proves problematic, even more when patrolling privates have to keep on the watch and look at every encounter as a potential contact with “Dahalo”, these cattle thefts who have been spreading terror largely unopposed throughout the southern outback of the country. Academics and experienced observers are beginning to voice their points and concerns. “I would be for personal involvement from the very President Hery Rajaonarimampianina, just as Philibert Tsiranana, Alber Zafy and the other presidents before him consented to, into the settlement of disputes between Madagascans, instead of the use of brute force” explained the academic Henry Rasamoelina. The sociologist recalled that “the series of military campaigns conducted in Madagascar’s red zones so far have not proved enough to put an end to violence there, have they?” As a matter of fact, the Dahalo are likely to merge into the society and put a low profile up while the armed forces’ search and destroy operation develop, then resume their raids, more aggressively than before, as soon as the storm abates.