Durban, South Africa — Despite the departure to Seychelles on Friday of the embattled erstwhile leader of Madagascar, Didier Ratsiraka - and the official recognition of his rival Marc Ravalomanana by countries such as the United States and the former colonial power France - the Organisation of African Union (OAU) is standing aloof.
The OAU has refused to endorse either man as the legitimate president of the Indian Ocean island or to invite them to the OAU summit in Durban, South Africa .
The South African foreign minister, and incoming chair of the OAU council of ministers, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, made the organizations uncompromising position on Madagascar clear at a news briefing in the port city of Durban, where member states are preparing for the final summit of the OAU next week.
Wagging her finger at journalists, Zuma said the OAU was not taking its cue from the Americans or the French. "No amount of protestation will change the situation in regard to recognition. The decision was taken by heads of state and, when they meet here, they can decide on anything they want. But the OAU has made a clear decision in 1999, and again in 2000, that as a matter of principle, it will recognize none of the people who come to power through unconstitutional means."
Corridor whispers hint that Ravalomanana, who claims Ratsiraka rigged the December presidential election in Madagascar and first had himself proclaimed himself president in February, may be invited to join OAU leaders in Durban, on condition he agrees to a repeat election or, at the very least, to form a government of national unity and reconciliation.
But Zuma was adamant and appeared to reject that possibility when asked whether the fact of Western endorsement of Ravalomanana as president of Madagascar might not put the OAU out of step with international opinion: "The OAU does what the OAU wants. It is not guided by what France or the United States or any other person does. They can recognize, but we will not be forced to recognize anyone," she shot back.
The South African foreign minister said this was a clear decision by the organization. But African ministers in Durban are reported to have spent three hours debating Madagascar, indicating that they remain divided on the question of whether or not to recognize the Ravalomanana government.
Twice in the past few months Ravalomanana and Ratsiraka have met for peace talks in Dakar, Senegal, organized by President Abdoulaye Wade under the auspices of the OAU. The first round in April ended in an agreement that looked reasonable on paper, but immediately fell apart in practice once the two were back home in Madagascar.
The Dakar accord stipulated that Ravalomanana should renounce the presidency which he did, and that there should be a recount, by the High Constitutional Court, of the contested presidential election results. The Court held the count and ruled in Ravalomanana's favour and he was again sworn in as president.
But Ratsiraka refused to accept the court's verdict, to step down or to recognise Ravalomanana as the winner of the poll and the new leader.
His position prompted the political stalemate that had divided Madagascar since December to escalate into bloody and violent confrontations between supporters of the two rivals. The army, which had initially stayed out of the conflict, began to take sides, backing either Ratsiraka or Ravalomanana, compounding the problems.
Round two of the Dakar talks ended without agreement. Meanwhile Ravalomanana appeared to consolidate his power in the areas of Madagascar he controlled - including the capital, Antananarivo. Ratsiraka became increasingly isolated in his eastern port city stronghold of Tamatave and Madagascar continued to live uncomfortably with two rival presidents, two governments and two capitals.
The OAU has called for fresh elections in Madagascar. The secretary-general of the organization, Amara Essy, echoed Zumas stance when he called on African ministers in Durban not to give in to pressure and emotions (for recognition of Ravalomanana) and instead engage with the leadership in Madagascar, an island with a population of 16 million.
Ravalomanana dismissed the OAU's refusal to recognise his government at an emergency meeting at its headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia late last month. "We knew their decision in advance, it changes nothing for us," said one Ravalomanana spokesman. Another official of the disputed Malagasy leader said the OAU was "a club of old heads of state, some of them friends of Didier Ratsiraka, who keep themselves in power in the same way he did."
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Predictions that Ratsiraka, a former naval admiral and long-time leader, was on his way out began weeks ago. That became a reality with reports early Friday that he left Madagascar on a plane bound for Seychelles, accompanied by his wife and family members. A second aircraft, reportedly carrying some of his ministers and officials, followed. Analysts reckon that Ratsiraka has gone for good.
Ravalomananas ministers have threatened to pursue Ratsiraka into exile and hold him to account for corruption, killings and the creation of armed militia groups.
The OAU is currently preparing for its final summit in Durban next week, at which it will make way for the launch of the new African Union which, unlike the 39-year-old OAU, should have the authority to intervene directly in internal conflicts on the continent.
For now, at least, it appears that Madagascar's seat will remain vacant at the Durban summit.
