Washington, DC — In a surprise move, the United States became the first major world power to formally recognize the government of Marc Ravalomanana in Madagascar. A letter to that effect from President George Bush was presented by American ambassador Wanda Nesbitt in Madagascar on Wednesday.
State Department spokesperson Richard Boucher told reporters in Washington, DC that the controversial election last December, which is being contested by former President Didier Ratsiraka, was settled in court. :"We consider Mr. Ravalomanana president," Boucher said, "and look forward to working with his government. There was a court case. A court in Madagascar decided on the election a number of weeks ago."
The cast in question was a ruling by the High Constitutional Court of Madagascar that Ravalomanana won an outright majority in a vote recount, making a the second referendum demanded by Ratsiraka unnecessary. The Organization of African Unity has been reluctant to accept that verdict, hoping instead to broker a political settlement that would end the violence that has killed dozens of people in recent weeks and done severe damage to the Indian Ocean island's economy. Before the dispute erupted six months ago, the country was experiencing rapid growth, partly by taking advantage of opportunities to export clothing and other goods to the United States under the provisions of the African Growth and Opportunity Act. That legislation lowers tariff barriers for certain developing African nations.
Whether or not other industrial nations follow the US lead - and there have been indications that at least some will - the decision is more than a political victory for the new Madagascar government. The majority of the island's foreign reserves are held by the US foreign reserve bank in New York and were frozen during the presidential dispute. The US ambassador said Washington is taking steps to unlock the $80 million that Ravalomana's administration needs to buy essential supplies, including fuel and medicine.
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Although conditions in the capital of Antananarivo have eased this week, with fuel at petrol pumps for the first time in months of blockade by forces loyal to Ratsiraka, the situation in the former president's northern stronghold of Diego remain tense. On Monday June 25 between 60 and 70 men and women accused of supporting Ravalomanana were tied to the fence of the Diego governor's mansion and left for the day. Church and human rights groups, as well as the Consul, tried to intervene, without success. Sources say that the current whereabouts of those detained is unknown and that many others, including clerics, are in hiding.
