Resumption of negotiations: rivalry in the air

Even though Ablassé Ouédraogo said that negotiations driven by the African Union and those lately started by the SADC through its new mediator, the Mozambican ex-president Joaquim Chissano, are complementary, political observers’ perception is quite different. Many do feel a rivalry between both organizations. 

Ablassé Ouédraogo, the African Union’s envoy, created quite a surprise by announcing at the organization’s seat, the resumption of talks for next July 22nd in Addis-Abeba Ethiopia. The statement occurred as the SADC’s delegation, driven by Chissano, was ending the first phase: the consultation of the different political sides and some civilian society representatives in Madagascar.  

After four days of mission, Joaquim Chissanos and his collaborators left Antananarivo. The ex-president could meet all political parties which displayed a firm will to come back to the negotiation table.  

The next meeting in Addis-Abeba will permit to pursue the discussions about the Transition’s charter. The talks on this topic have been frozen by the amnesty question and by that of the return of the exile president, Marc Ravalomanana.  

The negotiations monitored by the contact group have been suspended on last June 16th, after several days of discussion between four parties (Andry Rajoelina, Didier Ratsiraka, Albert Zafy and Marc Ravalomanana). The representative of the UN, Tiébilé Dramé, and that of the African Union, Ablassé Ouédraogo, affirmed on that day that more  time had to be left to the different sides to mull the situation over a bit better. 

Ever since, the stands didn’t evolve much. The will to discuss is however a reality. Very lately, Andry Rajoelina, didn’t hide his desire to put an end to Marc Ravalomanana’s return saga, by estimating that such question concerns a single man’s interests. He doesn’t care of the legalistic demand and demonstrations; Rajoelina wants to go all alone to the end of his Transition.  

The African Union however warned against any attempt to solve the crisis one-sidedly. The organization is convinced that a new election prior to a compromise between the different parties can only clear on a new instability.