Johannesburg - The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has appointed former President of Mozambique, Joaquim Chissano, to lead an inclusive dialogue between the warring political parties in Madagascar.
A SADC Extra Ordinary Summit was held in Johannesburg on Saturday to discuss the deteriorating political situation in the Indian Ocean island. Deliberations between the African leaders went on late into the night.
Mr Chissano, assisted by a high-level team of mediators, will lead and coordinate inclusive dialogue among the parties.
The team will also liaise with other stakeholders such as the African Union and the United Nations in a bid to restore constitutional order in Madagascar, which the summit said was urgently needed.
Southern African leaders suspended Madagascar from SADC in March for what they described as an unconstitutional change of government.
Former President Marc Ravalomanana fled the island country after his political rival Andry Rajoelina ousted him in a military coup.
Opening the summit on Saturday, South African President and current Chairperson of SADC, Jacob Zuma, said the body regretted the current political situation in Madagascar.
"We believe that peace will be achieved if all parities to the conflict are committed to the process," said President Zuma.
The summit urged all stakeholders to commit to a peaceful negotiated settlement through dialogue and desist from any violent solutions and inflammatory statements which may jeopardize and undermine current efforts in bringing constitutional normalcy.
It was crucial that there be an inclusive political dialogue in Madagascar where all the relevant parties and stakeholders have the opportunity to be part of finding a resolution.
"The foundation to an equitable solution to Madagascar should draw from the constitutional and democratic principles that are enshrined in the SADC Treaty and in the AU Constitutive Act," said President Zuma to applause from the floor.
The summit also considered reports from different assessment missions, in particular the SADC Special Envoy to Madagascar and of the Ministerial Troika of the Organ on the political situation in the country.
These missions were set up by the last SADC Extra Ordinary Summit in Swaziland.
"We are cognisant of and applaud the work undertaken by the Organ Troika as well as other stakeholders beyond our region," said President Zuma.
He further urged SADC member countries attending the summit to present a united front at the upcoming AU Summit. An ordinary SADC summit will be held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo in September.
"We remain convinced that the important objective of integrating the continent rests on strong regional pillars".
The summit also urged the Malagasy people, through their main political structures and representatives to be encouraged to take active ownership of the inclusive dialogue and refrain from any forms of exclusion in the process.
