Would the army sail under common political colours?

They threatened to do it, well, they did it. The Madagascan army commanders are unanimously speaking out to denounce the setting up of a National Defence and Inner Security Reflection Committee (CRDSN). Announced in the transition’s charter, this organ is to be advisory, and won’t be physically in command. Its main purpose would be the enhancement of unity and discipline within the armed forces. 

The armed forces’ big family under the command of the Rajoelina mobility’s sympathizers is rejecting this article 22. The evoked motive concerns the fact that the eight members of the CRDSN are to be designated by the big four mobilities, two members chosen by each one.  “This designation made by mobility chiefs is fundamentally opposed to the resolution which extols the depoliticization of the armed forces, adopted during the national army assemblies”. 

A political transition is, although, being necessary in order to depoliticize an army backing the one it put in charge back in latest March. The logic of transition’s charter actually requires all mobilities to be represented within the organ assigned to build up a new republican army. 

In a joined statement, the army officials “are rejecting whatever could be source of division” while encouraging whatever could reinforce the army’s unity. The current army officials could well be blamed for their support of the popular movement followed by their slight but decisive putsch, but they also have to be praised for their successful preservation of the army’s unity . The colonels’ revolution is on the brink of collapse if the inclusive and consensual transition is put in place. 

However, the armed forces’ chiefs want to cover their back. They are displaying their political position, emphasizing their opposition to the elected president Marc Ravalomanana’s return in the country, insisting on keeping Andry Rajoelina and Monja Roindefo in charge, respectively as Transition’s president and Prime minister. 

The refusal of the CRSDN would only be a pretext for the current army leaders in order to openly influence the outcome of political negotiations between the big four mobilities. The armed forces’ commands are standing tall together to say that they defend “popular aspirations”. “Any resolution which offends the population has backlashes on the army “, affirmed the defence secretary, the inner Security minister as well as commanders of the armed forces.