Pretoria - The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has expressed sadness at the arrest of former President Marc Ravalomanana after his return to Madagascar.
“The SADC Region is saddened by the unfolding political situation in the Republic of Madagascar stemming from the return to the country by former President Marc Ravalomanana and his subsequent detention,” said Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security, President Jacob Zuma.
President Zuma said SADC and the international community have been seized with the political crisis in Madagascar since 2009.
SADC, the African Union and other key international players under the umbrella of the International Contact Group (ICG) launched concerted efforts towards the restoration of constitutional normalcy in Madagascar.
Mediation efforts spearheaded by SADC led to the signing of a Roadmap in September 2011.
Under the watchful eye of SADC in collaboration with the international community, Madagascar held elections as outlined in the Roadmap.
As a culmination of this process, the newly democratically elected President of Madagascar, Henry Rajaonarimampianina, was sworn in on 25 January 2014.
“In pursuit of sustainable political and security stability in the Republic of Madagascar, Article 20 of the SADC Roadmap on Madagascar provides for the unconditional return of political exiles, including Marc Ravalomanana, the application of Amnesty Law and national reconciliation,” said SADC.
The recent SADC Summit held in Zimbabwe called on the democratically elected authorities in Madagascar to adhere to and ensure the full implementation of the SADC Roadmap, including ensuring national reconciliation and healing.
While neither SADC and the host country for Ravalomanana, South Africa, were aware of Ravalomanana’s planned return, SADC has called for calm, political tolerance and national reconciliation in Madagascar as a pre-requisite for political and security stability and socio-economic reconstruction. - SAnews.gov.za
