PH
On Monday, security personnel in Madagascar sprayed tear gas at opposition candidates protesting in the capital Antananarivo, escalating political tensions ahead of presidential elections next month.
Eleven of the 13 presidential contenders have called on supporters to protest what they call a “institutional coup” in favor of incumbent Andry Rajoelina.
Some of them, including former President Marc Ravalomanana, joined a march of a few hundred people on Monday morning toward the central May 13 square.
However, law enforcement and army officers, who had been stationed in large numbers ahead of the unofficial rally, attempted to disperse the mob before it reached its intended objective.
“They are crazy! What the soldiers are doing is dangerous,” Ravalomanana said, after he was led away to safety by his security detail inside the car park of a tennis club in the capital as teargas was fired.
At least two people were arrested and eight wounded, including six police officers and one presidential candidate, according to police spokesman Tojo Raoilijon.
“Things like that happen,” Raoilijon said of the injured candidate, adding some demonstrators pelted security forces with stones.
On November 9, voters in Madagascar, one of the world’s poorest countries despite immense natural riches, will go to the polls to elect a president.
Rajoelina, 49, resigned in accordance with the constitution last month in order to run for re-election.
The Senate president was meant to take over, but he rejected for “personal reasons,” leaving the responsibility to a “collegial government” led by Prime Minister Christian Ntsay, a Rajoelina friend.
The move was accepted by the country’s highest court, which also rejected petitions to have Rajoelina’s candidacy declared null and void due to his dual French nationality, infuriating the opposition.
“What happened this morning was scandalous but it will not stop us from trying again and again,” said opposition candidate Jean-Jacques Ratsietison, who was at the protest.
Police said they had to intervene to restore order as the demonstration was not authorised.
“Rajoelina wants to dazzle the opposition with tear gas. It is our democracy that is crying,” added Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, another presidential hopeful.
‘Foment Unrest’
The capital of the Indian Ocean island nation was quiet in the afternoon, as police maintained a strong presence in the centre.
On Sunday, Rajoelina accused his opponents of creating a political crisis “from scratch” because they were “not ready” for the vote.
“There is no crisis in Madagascar,” he said in a televised address.
“There are people who want to foment unrest in the country… who want to burn down infrastructure, including the City Hall. We do not accept that.”
Last month, the European Union, the United States, and others, including the United Kingdom and France, announced they would monitor the election campaign with “utmost vigilance.”
They stated that confidence in the electoral process is essential for the results to be recognized “by all” and to ensure the country’s “stability.”
The chairman of the Constitutional Court has previously disputed claims of bias, telling AFP that the body could not “force” the Senate President to take over.
Rajoelina originally came to power in 2009, following a coup that deposed Ravalomanana.
After declining to participate in the 2013 election owing to international pressure, he was re-elected in 2018.
