Operation Remenabila: the armed forces actually quite under pressure

At the beginning of the operation, the ruling power’s Prime Minister and the Defense minister hit the road to the south for the sake of comforting the affected population. Scores of residents kept on fleeing from their villages and the consequent social crisis slowly but emerges. Omer Beriziky and General Rakotoharimasy tackled the issue though the renewal of talks with the dahalo group, as they expect them to release their hostages and surrender as a result. Scores of army officers definitely not support the idea and cannot catch up why should negotiations be a forced step in the way to deal with those who brought their brothers-in-arms down a couple of weeks earlier.

“Remenabila must be arrested whatever it takes to this end, if ever possible alive, and dully trialed” declared a National State Police’s Secretary apparently far more motivated than his supreme commanders. General Randrianazara already made no secret of the general search and destroy strategy which does not happen to be implemented yet.

The operation’s first action merely led to the siege of a deserted village. The management of the operation is definitely not being widely praised. “If we only track them down and locate them, their rampage will not end for so little; we have to surround them, strike from three or four sides at time and bring every living being trapped in this ring down” declared the annoyed retired general Ramakavelo Desire.

The military unit in charge of dealing with the enemy in this operation in the south gets tactical support from one helicopter and one small reconnaissance aircraft. The marks were located in the village of Esira, but they left ever since with some hundreds of stolen zebu as well as villagers deemed to serve as human shields. One first shot in the dark from the armed forces. Even when its position is clearly located, the enemy is largely allowed to get away although not being airborne in any way. At least the dead bodies of soldiers fallen in an ambush a couple of weeks earlier have been recovered.

The Malagasy army and security forces are definitely struggling to do away with this small scale uprising. The Interior Minister holds the attempt to negotiate with daholo bandits as a mistake. “How can we possible think any negotiation up with those who killed those of our kind? He, who killed with the sword, must be killed by the sword!” said Florent Rakotoarisoa. “We will try to capture and arrest them, but the slightest resistance from them will be rewarded with summary execution” he added.

Politicians make use of the situation in order to put the armed forces under pressure. The opposition labels it as a suitable mission for soldiers used to crackdown on peaceful political demonstrations. The ruling power’s point rather holds the showdown as a challenge. “If we cannot deal with Remenabila’s gang the way we’re supposed, it would mean that the ruling power is weak” warned Eugene Voninahitsy, congressman of the Transition.

The potential French military support recovers the debate’s front stage. “We should be seeking help from France, since it is bound to support us, be it by merely providing a suitable chopper for such an operation,” insisted the interior minister. The defense minister is sticking out to its position. “Foreign involvement is absolutely off the point. This is a matter of national sovereignty.”

“The contingent wedging war on Remenabila is equipped the standard way,” argued the state police’s secretary. Neither choppers armed with Gatling machine guns nor light armored panzers available. The risk of dramatically rising number of civilian collateral damages makes mortar attacks quite unlikely. Unless the army intends to resort to sleeping gas, confrontation will come up to a one on one fight, and fate will decide. Besides, Remenabila knows the area better than any other officer.

This sixty years old man was a former convict which now turns into a militia leader wedging war on to the armed forces. He would command some 300 men whereas some 1000 Dahalo would be active in this region. The raids and the collection of Zebus are conducted by his lieutenants. Remena Bila keeps away from the operation in itself, and plays the strategic role of mastermind