Dakar, Senegal — The self-proclaimed president of Madagascar, Marc Ravalomanana, arrived in Senegal on Tuesday, ahead of his rival, the sitting president, Didier Ratsiraka, who was expected in the capital Dakar in the evening - both at the invitation of President Abdoulaye Wade.
Wade hopes to broker a peace deal to end the political stalemate in Madagascar, after mediation by the Organisation of African Unity, OAU, has so far failed.
Met at the airport by the Senegalese foreign minister, Cheikh Tidiane Gadio and the secretary-general of the Organisation of African Unity, Amara Essy, Ravalomanana indicated briefly to waiting journalists that he was open to the new mediation efforts. "Yes, yes, sure. No problem," said Ravalomanana, adding that he was in Dakar in his capacity as president of Madagascar and not as the popular millionaire mayor of the capital, Antananarivo.
Ratsiraka arrived later just after 6.30pm to the same reception committee and a red carpet welcome.
It was President Wade's suggestion that Ratsiraka and Ravalomanana should be in Dakar on the sidelines of the summit on the New Partnership for Africas Development, Nepad, from 15-17 April, being attended by several African heads-of-state.
The leaders will then conduct closed door meetings.
Gadio, earlier confirmed the Senegalese initiative to allAfrica, saying "We have every reason to be optimistic and to think that we will have the opportunity to contribute to bringing together these two brothers from Madagascar, as well as finding a solution and even a breakthrough in the crisis in their country."
The OAU chief told reporters at Dakar airport that they were ready "to listen to the two parties, analyse the situation and try to find solutions agreeable to all."
Gadio said Wade wanted the Malagasy rivals to benefit from the presence of other African leaders currently in Senegal so that, together, they could all endeavour to restart the stalled dialogue on Madagascar;
Ravalomanana, the country's main opposition leader, disputed the results of the first round of the presidential poll held in December in Madagascar. He believes he was cheated of victory by Ratsiraka, the incumbent, through manipulation of the poll results.
A court ruled that neither candidate had attained the requisite 50 percent of the vote to win outright, necessitating a second round. After OAU attempts at mediation, and an initial agreement on a date for a run off poll, Ravalomanana changed his mind and was 'sworn in' as president on 22 February by a supreme court judge sympathetic to his cause.
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Subsequent OAU mediation efforts in March also failed.
Ravalomanana formed a parallel government and slowly took over most of the main government and offices and official buildings in Antananrivo, where he has most of his support. Ratsiraka retired to his stronghold in the eastern coastal city of Tamatave (also known as Toamasina) after declaring first a curfew in the city, followed by a 'state of necessity' and then martial law.
What began as three months of mainly peaceful and good-tempered mass rallies and a stayaway organised by the pro-Ravalomanana opposition in the capital, then degenerated into ugly clashes between rival supporters, with the army initially remaining divided but neutral.
The Dakar initiative comes amid reports of worsening violence in Madagascar, in which at least one person has been killed and dozens injured.
Wades minister said Senegal first hoped to "break the ice" between the Malagasy rivals.
"They trust us. They have confidence in our country. They believe in the rest of Africa and are coming to talk to their brothers (presidents)."
Gadio told allAfrica.com: "To see them both here, shaking hands or perhaps even hugging each other in front of the whole world, that would already be a victory for Africa. Thats all we are looking for, and we hope that things will move in the right direction."
