International mediators landing on by the dropper

The American Under Secretary of State, Philip Carter, arrived on Malagasy soil without ceremony at the end of week. This former official from the United States’ embassy in Madagascar will participate in the meeting of international mediators about the political crisis in Madagascar on October 6th. 

As far as he is concerned, the French Secretary of State Alain Joyandet is being expected on October 5th in the airport of Ivato.  

The other participants to the Contact Group’s meeting have, besides, been flying separately. Joaquim Chissano, main mediator appointed by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is already in the Malagasy capital city. He has already met Marc Ravalomanana in Johannesburg, Andry Rajoelina and Didier Ratsiraka in Paris, before making for the Great Isle. 

The radical supporters of the High Authority of Transition basically programmed a demonstration at the international airport of Ivato in order to contest the international mediators’ entry in the country.  

On the other hand, the exiled president’s partisans, favourable to the immediate implementation of the agreements signed in Maputo, also planned to make for the airport to greet the incoming mediators. The situation could have ended in confrontations between both camps. Police forces units have, therefore, been positioned by the airport on Saturday October 3rd in order to prevent from possible unrests.     

In the end, orders to rally the airport failed to emerge from both rival sides because mediators were landing on by the dropper.  

However, the partisans of Andry Rajoelina and those of his Prime minister Monja Roindefo are planning a demonstration in front of the Carlton hotel, in which the ICG’s meeting is meant to take place on October 6th. The meeting will be taking place under high security measures, knowing that former rebellious militaries had recently threatened to jeopardize the SADC envoys if they dare the move into the Malagasy territory.