Political stumbling block: the international community waving sanctions

During the latest days, the sanctions stemming from the international community have been coming up. The European Union recommends “individual sanctions”: “blocking personal access to foreign accounts” and “suspending backing”, could the political situation remain bogged down within the next few days.  

The 18th parliamentary round between countries from Africa, the Caribbean, the Pacific zone and the European Union, in Luanda, was an opportunity to assess the situation in Madagascar. About ten Malagasy parliamentarians have attended the meeting.  

Andry Rajoelina himself got his share of blame during this round in Angola, since the President of the joint ACP-EU Assembly put forward the necessity of “an independent international investigation of serious violations of the human rights as arbitrary arrests and acts of torture perpetrated by the security forces”. 

The United States are, besides, calling upon the Malagasy leaders’ common sens. The AGOA law related advantages will be lost if the situation fails to evolve. In the daily newspaper Midi Madagascar, the American ambassador, Niels Marquardt, confirmed that “The US President, Barack Obama, will be making a decision, during this month, as for the fate to be granted by the United States to Madagascar concerning its next year’s involvement into the American law for the Growth in Africa or AGOA”. He added that “this decision will be taken and will be signed by December 31st, but considering the administrative procedures on the American soil, the verdict will be known before the end of the year”.