Agreement Reached in Madagascar

The Associated Press, Thu 18 Apr 2002

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Madagascar's rival presidential candidates reached an accord Thursday on the island nation's thee-month election impasse, agreeing to hold a new vote if a recount of the Dec. 16 poll fails to determine a conclusive winner.

The agreement, reached after two days of intensive mediation by African presidents in Dakar, Senegal, commits the two men, incumbent President Didier Ratsiraka and challenger Marc Ravalomanana, to first await the outcome of the court-ordered recount.

Under the agreement, if neither one wins a majority, Madagascar will hold a revote within six months under the Organization of African Unity, the United Nations and the European Union.

OAU Secretary-General Amara Essy made public terms of the accord after round-the-clock diplomatic efforts by himself and presidents of Ivory Coast, Senegal, Benin and Mozambique — who shuttled back and forth between the separate hotel rooms of Ratsiraka and Ravalomanana.

The agreement came early Thursday morning after the two men met for face-to-face talks in closed quarters.

The three-month election standoff has divided the country and the military, brought the impoverished Indian Ocean island's economy to a standstill with roadblocks and embargoes, and killed 32 people, according to civil rights groups' count.

Ravalomanana, an opposition leader, had declared himself president after the December election, claiming he had won more than half the votes.

Election observers, churches and civil rights groups all said the vote was badly flawed. Ratsiraka's government, saying there was no clear winner, demanded a run-off.

Each man presided over rival governments in the dispute that followed.

The accord provides for establishment of an interim government of national reconciliation, with a prime minister to be chosen by Ratsiraka and Ravalomanana.

The pact also stipulates creation of an independent election commission.

Each man agrees to remove blockades and allow free movement of goods and people around their nation, off the southern African nation of Mozambique. The accord also pledges an end to all violence in the dispute.