The FFKM’s top summit, one end to the crisis or the beginning to another one ?

No resolution, no a single shade of official statement, merely a dim promise to report a wee bit more details in a forthcoming press conference on the next day… the crisis settlement’s summit’s day one has so far settled nothing at all. The four major churches’ leaders led by Odon Razanakolona, two former presidents, namely Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy, and the transitional leader Andry Rajoelina took part into this summit organized by the FFKM. President Ravalomanana’s absence became the first major issue of this political crisis basically created by the putsch directed against him four years ago. No leak has been able to pierce the summit’s secrecy. Whether all the expected participants would ever be allowed to show themselves or not, and when, if ever, remain unanswered questions.

a summit actually thwarted by the armed forces

On Monday, July  3rd, president Marc Ravalomanana was expected to land in at 14h, supposed to join the International Conference Center located in the airfield’s vicinity and take part into the FFKM’s summit.The armed forces’ top command did not have it this way. In the end, it squeezed out a ban and turned president Ravalomanana’s flight away. These uniformed and high ranked supporters of the transitional leader’s putsch and policy since 2009 declared to be unprepared to the prospect of having the face up to the one they toppled on the same ground. Once again they require time, as usual.

The FFKM did not lose its temper for so much. Concerning Marc Ravalomanana’s return, Odon Razanakolona recalled and emphasized the SADC’s requirement of security for the exiled president, bearing in mind that the armed forces remain loyal to Andry Rajoelina. Generals and colonels must have had to be convinced in the run of one special meeting at at the International Conference Center, with or without the presence of any political board.Armed units consequently paraded the rehearsal of the arrest of Marc Ravalomanana as a deterrent on the airfield, and their generals turned the FFKM’s invitation down.

and now the transitional leader’s terms

Archbishop Razanakolona had warned about the fact that a lengthy and difficult process has just been tackled. Could the FFKM possibly turn its own crisis settlement roadmap out? set a new and fair transition on the way to the elections? Andry Rajoelina made it clear in advance and warned: “if this meeting aims at the erection of another transition, I’ll never accept anything”. Then he naturally added the usual willingness to remain opened to reconciliation talks for the sake of the elections. These elections he actually condemned when proving untrue to his word given to the Malagasy population and the International Community, and when violating the electoral code by enforcing his candidacy beyond legal deadline.