First handshakes in Maputo, the ice has been broken

The greetings between president Ravalomanana and the one who ousted him were not friendly but remained on the edge of decency. As being the very first in the international Joaquim Chissano conference center, both figures greeted themselves from afar, at a distance. The feeling got less tense when presidents Ratsiraka and Ravalomanana shook hand. However, Albert Zafy greeted none of the three mobility chiefs. 

This first visual or physical contact between the protagonists of the political negotiations has sharpened everybody’s curiosity. The family portrait had to come to get all four men unwillingly giving in to the handshake test. Mediators opened the scoring. 

Since the beginning of negotiations, tension has been high between Marc Ravalomanana and Andry Rajoelina. The former displayed his eagerness to collaborate with all mobilities, as elected president of Madagascar, a title disputed by the young chief of the transition. Andry Rajoelina insisted on the fact that his authority is already legally established and put forward that the country’s reality doesn’t make Ravalomanana president anymore. 

Zafy Albert intervened to arbitrate the debate. He asked the GIC for private discussions to take place between the four mobility chiefs. Andry Rajoelina was the first to communicate with journalists. He recognized that there are opposed views. The young chief of the transition reiterated that solutions to the crisis have to answer the people’s expectations. 

Didier Ratsiraka came to Maputo with his daughter Annick. He met in private his former rival and enemy, Albert Zafy. Both figures showed the traditional hug off. The admiral appeared confident as for the outcome of the negotiations, and that trully deserved a 13 hours long flight.  On the other hand, Marc Ravalomanana, currently based in South Africa, joined Maputo by car with his wife Lalao Ravalomanana. 

Contrary to what has been announced, negotiations won’t be limited in time. The protagonists of the Madagascan political crisis have until Saturday August 08th to find an agreement. The signature of a basic convention is expected. It will determine role casting during the transition and the forthcoming elections’ conditions, particularly those of the presidential election. The national reconciliation question is just as so relevant. A future law of amnesty will depend on it, in order to make history of two decades of political storm. For three more days, Maputo will be the capital city of… Madagascar.