Malagasy crisis: a renewed American mediation, isn’t it?

Karl Wycoff will step behind enemy lines. The US deputy secretary of state in charge of Africa is joining Madagascar to support the recovery of a consensual and inclusive settlement of the political crisis. To this end, he will be meeting the HAT leader, Andry Rajoelina, as well as many other political protagonists in this crisis.

A renewed American mediation is however not yet to be held for granted. “The United States of America are pledging support to the SADC and the African Union led efforts to restore political order” declared Karl Wycoff by the beginning of 2010.

The United States’ position has always been pledging the implementation of internationally recognized agreements signed in Maputo and Addis Ababa. In January 2010, Karl Wycoff stated the implementation of international sanctions, “if the current ruling political figures were keeping on hindering the recovery of constitutional order, in other words, the recovery of the Maputo and Addis Ababa agreements”. By that time, he was longing for the installation of Eugene Mangalaza as consensual Prime Minister.

He is the first ever American envoy in the run of the settlement of this crisis. The situation has however become quite uncertain, since the HAT is on its way to install its personal republic  through its personal elections, and consequently inspire troubles. The United States have always been against the dictating power’s rule in Madagascar. Paris is keen on isolating Madagascar from the international community, Washington isn’t. The Obama administration rejected the HAT unilateral roadmap, including the incoming electoral processes.

Relationships between the HAT and the United States are reflected by the HAT caused sanctions which led to the loss of the AGOA contract, and the lack of diplomatic contacts between the HAT and Washington. The anti American propaganda has however stopped since ambassador Niels Marquardt left the island, for being accused of being supportive of the elected president Marc Ravalomanana.

He did remain beside President Ravalomanana few days to his eviction but emphatically denied the alleged presence of US military personal around Iavoloha. The United States have been condemning the unconstitutional change and the ambassador did advise President Ravalomanana to resign and let the people decide through an early presidential election to be managed by the Senate. The United States were bound to support this constitutional Transition for good, but the Obama administration did not forcibly do much to interfere with the HAT.