Malagasy army: latent division

It is an open secret. Every political crisis is adorned with division within the armed forces in Madagascar. So it has been in 1975, in 1991, in 2002 and so it is in 2009.  

The will of the HAT makeshift Transition’s military chiefs, might not be enough to prove the scheme wrong this time again. 

Since the beginning of the crisis and, especially, after the putsch back in mid-March, officers supposedly close to Marc Ravalomanana have been zeroed in on by the former  mutinous who supported the putsch planned by Andry Rajoelina.  

Lately, the resumption of often anonymous and more or less contradictory statements within the army, is the proof of a latent division within the army, an embarrassing case to be hidden at all costs.  

Since the CAPSAT base camp mutiny opened the way to the Coup back in mid-March as well as to the exile of Marc Ravalomanana, the army has never been again what it used to be. Ever since, the abuses, perpetrated by men in military fatigues on individuals, have just but digging in the gap within the armed forces. As one of the latest examples, can be  noticed a raid on the mayor of Sabotsy Namehana. 

Some military responsible have, thus, significantly distanced themselves from the widely-known special Task force (FIS) controlled by the men of the president of the HAT, Andry Rajoelina, the famous commanders Lylyson René and Charles Andrianasoavina.  

As other relevant signs of the army’s division, the recent creation of a “association” of officers openly supporting Prime minister Monja Roindefo. The association has been put in place to deal with the possibility of a replacement of the government’s Chief. It has actually been a possibility repeatedly evoked during and following the second leg of the Maputo summit. 

For several months, besides, Marc Ravalomanana’s former collaborators, namely the former Director in charge of the presidential security, general Raoelina among other ones, have constituted the putschist mutinous’ main target. Other officers are currently in exile, until the next evolution of the situation. In the way it is currently standing, the unity around the unique command extolled by the HAT military leaders can legitimately be called an awful mess.  

At the time of the second leg of the Maputo meeting, Joaquim Chissano got it right, to be keen on specifying to a Rajoelina boasting his endorsement by the armed forces, that he’s observed and noticed two armies during his stay in Antananarivo.