OAU:Africa Peace Accord 'Fragile'

African Leader Warns Madagascar's Power-Sharing Accord 'very Fragile'

The Associated Press - 20.04.2002

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso - The head of the Organization of African Unity warned that Madagascar's new peace accord was "very fragile," saying Saturday he was sending an envoy to help oversee it.

Success of the African-brokered deal to end a violent three-month power struggle in the Indian Ocean island nation ultimately is the responsibility of the political rivals who signed the accord, Amara Essy said.

The rivals and their followers "must be aware that the country's interest is more important than being a president," the OAU secretary-general said.

On Friday, Madagascar incumbent Didier Ratsiraka and opposition leader Marc Ravalomanana signed a pact to resolve their rival claims to the presidency after disputed December elections.

The impasse between the two men has divided the nation's military and government, killed about 35 people, and brought the economy to a standstill as the two camps fought for control.

The OUA, the continent's most influential bloc of national leaders, joined presidents of Senegal, Benin, Ivory Coast and Mozambique in mediating.

The resulting accord calls for a transition government pending a second round of elections. The government would include a prime minister agreed to by both men.

Essy acknowledged the deal, reached in Dakar, Senegal, was 'very fragile."

On Madagascar, many supporters of the opposition leader already are refusing to abide by it. Under the accord, Ratsiraka "should remain in place until elections," he said.

Essy said he would appoint an envoy in coming days to assist in executing the accord. The OAU leader was in Burkina Faso for a meeting of the body's labor and social affairs commission.