Madagascar: Political crisis - Confusion, arrests and economic woes
Whereas the new prime minister, colonel
Albert Camille Vital, has reaffirmed his willingness to work with the already
designated civilian ministers, the minister of the armed forces, general
Noel Rakotonandrasana, said that the military would be included in the
transition government. The Malagasy press, today, wonders about the possible
formation of a military-civilian government and suggests the idea as an
attempt by president Andry Rajoelina to block any initiative from his opponents,
whose demonstration last Tuesday, was repressed with tear gas, leaving
seven wounded and leading to 13 arrests. While politics are overheating,
there are growing economic woes for Madagascar. The United States has suspended
the island nation from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) that
ensured economic aid. This move could place some 100,000 jobs in the textile
sector at risk; the minister of the economy said that the government would
consider devaluating the national currency, the Ariary, to ensure that
Malagasy products remain competitive in export markets. [AB]