SADC tackles Madagascar crisis

2009-06-20 11:01

Johannesburg - Leaders in the Southern African Development Community will meet on Saturday to try to help restore political order in Madagascar after internationally mediated talks on the island collapsed earlier this week.

SADC mediators sent to the island will report back to the heads of state and governments after the African Union and the United Nations suspended crisis talks indefinitely citing a lack of political will.

Southern African leaders suspended Madagascar from the SADC regional grouping at their meeting in March, saying they would not recognise Andry Rajoelina, who took power in a move that was condemned as a coup by the international community.

The political turmoil has wrought havoc on the Indian Ocean island's $390m-a-year tourism sector and unnerved foreign companies investing in its booming oil and mineral sectors.

Rajoelina, a 34-year-old former disc jockey, came to power in March when President Marc Ravalomanana stepped aside after intense pressure from the opposition and army chiefs.

Ravalomanana, who fled to southern Africa, insists he remains the legitimate leader of the Indian Ocean island and has rejected sharing power with Rajoelina.

Constitutional order

Foreign leaders branded the transition a coup and have called for a quick election to restore constitutional order.

SADC Executive Secretary Tomaz Salomao said the various parties were close to reaching a breakthrough in the negotiations, but differences on major issues like a possible election remained.

"If we move to elections, if Mr Rajoelina and President Ravalomanana will stand ... those are some of the issues that are of major concern," he said at a news conference on Friday.

The African economic bloc COMESA said earlier this month a military intervention to restore constitutional order on the island could be an option.

The meeting will be chaired by South African President Jacob Zuma, with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and Ravalomanana also expected to attend.

- Reuters