Madagascar Risks Deeper Split Over Rival Rulers

yahooo 02.05.2002

By Honore Razafintsalama

ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) - Madagascar's leadership crisis threatened to split the giant Indian Ocean island on Thursday as provincial governors prepared to declare independence to support embattled ruler Didier Ratsiraka.

France condemned moves by governors of at least three of the island's six provinces to break away from the central government of its former colony.

"The decision of the governors of Toliara, Antsiranana and Toamasina to proclaim the independence of their provinces is particularly regrettable and certainly does not facilitate the search for a peaceful and democratic solution," Foreign Ministry spokesman Francois Rivasseau said in Paris.

Governors loyal to Ratsiraka were due to announce the secession of their provinces from the central government on Thursday in protest at a court decision declaring Ratsiraka's rival Marc Ravalomanana the winner of a December election.

It was not immediately clear what secession would entail on the island -- which is almost the size of the U.S. state of Texas -- or how many of its 16 million residents would back the move.

In the capital, dairy tycoon Ravalomanana, who was declared president by a court on Monday after an election recount, said he would hold an investiture ceremony on May 6.

"The investiture will be on Monday because we want a religious service first (on Sunday) so everyone can pray for the ceremony," he told Reuters. "After the investiture I will take power."

Madagascar, which lies 250 miles off southeast Africa, is already split between two rival administrations under the two rival presidents.

The capital Antananarivo, in the center of the isle, is controlled by Ravalomanana, the city's charismatic mayor who accuses Ratsiraka of rigging the December 16 election.

Some four million people live in the capital and surrounding area, surrounded by five provinces.

ISLAND DIVIDED

The governor of the northern province of Antsiranana declared independence on Monday after the court verdict. Three other governors have said they plan to break away.

The army is divided and has so far kept out of clashes between the two sides. But in the capital, newspapers said senior officers appeared to be leaning toward Ravalomanana.

"After his official investiture, Marc Ravalomanana will become supreme commander of the armed forces and we will obey him," Army Chief of Staff Ismael Monibou was quoted as saying.

The High Constitutional Court declared Ravalomanana the winner of the elections on Monday, but Ratsiraka's loyalists said the chamber was biased and rejected the result.

Health Ministry figures say that as many as 60 people may have been killed in clashes since the leadership crisis began in January. The Organization of African Unity (OAU) has warned of more violence if the crisis continues.

Ratsiraka's supporters have barricaded ports to starve the capital of fuel, paralyzing the key textile export industry.

The crisis began in January when Ravalomanana, a self-made millionaire, organized massive protests to demand a recount.

Diplomats brokered a deal to recount the results in April. Ratsiraka supporters rejected results that showed he had only won 36 percent of the vote against his rival's 51 percent.