The ICG confirmed the Maputo Charter’s supremacy; the HAT either complies or faces up to sanctions

The HAT attempt to deactivate the pending sanction process started by the International Contact Group in Addis Ababa was, definitely, far too optimistic and bold. Andry Rajoelinaeven did warn than only a bearable solution would be accepted. The group elected by the international community did not give in to Madagascar’s young authority’s umpteenth whim. The international community emphatically reiterated “its rejection of any unilateral process, its support of a compulsory consensual resolution of the crisis and, once again, its exhortations of the Malagasy parties to join the negotiation table and make the necessary concessions “.   

The Rajoelina mobility is, on the contrary, bound to get on with its unilateral process. The HAT leader would have, for a short while, reconsidered a resumption of the Maputo negotiations. But then, his allies barked as loud as they could, and hindered him from “laying the transition in its grave”. The ICG is appearing satisfied by the three Ravalomanana, Ratsiraka and Zafy mobilities’ general compliance with the solution pledged by the international community. On the other hand, “the Group noticed the dialogue reinstituted between the Mediation and the Rajoelina mobility, whose reaction, unfortunately, did not connect with the solutions proposed by the President of the AU Commission”.  

The HAT is being “summoned” to cooperate with the quick implementation of the Maputo agreements signed on August 08th and 09th, 2009, as well as the Addis Ababa Additional Act of November 2009… that have been negotiated and signed by Madagascar’s four political mobilities as the crisis settlement’s framework. Sanctions are, for the time being, still remaining sanctions, but certainly not for too much longer. “If the present stumbling block is remaining any longer, nations and international organizations will complete their duties within the next few weeks”, said the ICG. All of those guilty of deliberate hindrance against the constitutional order recovery process will have to face up to pertinent and due sanctions.  

The AU Permanent Security Council is meeting on February 19th, 2010 in order to assess the situation’s development. The AU options will be addressed by then. The HAT will be granted time again, at least 10 days, to back up under the international community’s pressure this time around. Andry Rajoelina already declared on the eve of the ICG meeting that he would be challenging any ICG led decision opposed to his own expectations. The dictating authorities’ leader is, by so doing, stubbornly keeping holding on his his May 2010 legislative elections, even if it kills him. Andry Rajoelina’s last asset is the attempt to make the ICG up as an enemy of the Malagasy people spurred by personal “hatred” against his own little self.