Madagascar's ruler, Andry Rajoelina, is reported to be conducting talks with military leaders in an effort to meet their demands that he bring to an end the country's political crisis.
This follows a deadlock in regionally-brokered talks held in South Africa last week, and Rajoelina's subsequent declaration that he will not return to the talks, which were postponed for two weeks.
Rajoelina seized power from Madagascar's elected president, Marc Ravolamanana, a year ago. The Southern African Development Community has since been trying to broker an agreement between Rajoelina, Ravolamanana and former presidents Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy.
L'Express de Madagascar reports from Antananarivo that upon arriving home from negotiations in Pretoria, Rajoelina said he would forge ahead with the creation of a government of national unity comprising military and civilian members – with or without the participation of the other leaders.
"Negotiation time is over," Rajoelina reportedly said. "I have shown patriotism and humanity but that was the last chance. There won't be any other, we have to keep moving and we will end up with a fourth republic."
He said he would enter talks with the army and the prime minister he had appointed and promised on Monday to present a solution within 48 hours.
L'Express said in another report that to draw the public more into the process of governance, Rajoelina promised to replace the National Independent Electoral Commission with a National Autonomous Electoral Commission.
The paper added, however, that after the failure of talks in Pretoria, the army viewed Rajoelina's actions with great suspicion and had put forward conditions for their participation in government. Details of their proposals have not been made public while negotiations continue.
Rajoelina's opponents have expressed surprise at Rajoelina's about-turn. Didier Ratsiraka told Radio France International that "the talks went well and we only hope Rajoelina will keep his word this time."
The Algerian newspaper, La Tribune, reports that at last week's talks, the International Contact Group headed by former Mozambican head of state Joaquim Chissano failed to persuade the four factions to reach a compromise.
But, the newspaper said, Chissano refuses to acknowledge that talks have failed. He said the four leaders had agreed to meet in Pretoria again to iron out the few issues that were still in contention, although he noted that the form and the content of the next meeting had still to be decided upon.
Under proposals formulated and signed in Maputo and Addis Ababa last year, all four parties would form a transitional arrangement, with ministries shared equally amongst them. The transitional administration, headed by Andry Rajoelina, was charged with organizing early presidential elections.
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To show good faith, Ravalomanana withdrew from the presidential race to concentrate on nation building. But no sooner had the agreement been signed than Rajoelina dismissed the prime minister whom the parties had agreed to appoint, Eugène Mangalaze, and appointed by decree in his place Cécile Manorohanta – who in turn was unilaterally dismissed within 48 hours of taking office, and replaced by by an army officer, Colonel Albert Camille.
La Tribune says Rajoelina's actions jeopardized months of efforts to re-establish a constitutional regime in Madagascar. Despite pressure from the international community, he vehemently refused to return to the negotiation table, accusing his rivals of plotting a coup against him and going so far as to allege he was being targetted for assassination.
The African Union (AU) has imposed sanctions on Rajoelina, the United States has cut aid and pulled the country from the list of African nations benefitting from favourable trade legislation. The Peace and Security Council of the AU has imposed travel bans on 108 members of Rajoelina's government, the army and members of the judiciary.
Adapted from the original French articles by Michael Tantoh.
