The African Union Suspends Madagascar

(APA)--The peace and security council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) on Friday suspended Madagascar’s membership in the African Union, terming as unconstitutional the process that led to the assumption of power by opposition leader Andry Rajoelina to replace elected President Marc Ravalomanana who was compelled to resign on Tuesday, ending thus a two-month crisis.

The Constitutional Court of Madagascar on Wednesday approved Andry Rajoelina as head of state by endorsing the order President Ravalomanana signed to hand over the executive power to a military board. The same board handed over power to Andry Rajoelina, 34, who becomes the interim president for two years.

The PSC reasserted, during its 16 March meeting, its total rejection of any change or attempt to carry out any unconstitutional change of government contrary to the relevant AU instruments, particularly the July 1999 Algiers Decision, the July 2000 Lomé Declaration, the AU Constitutive Act and the Protocol relating to the Peace and Security Council.

The Council also reiterated the AU’s call to the Malagasy parties to exercise ‘utmost restraint and refrain from any action which would make it even more difficult to find a solution, challenge the republican institutions and their functioning, and seriously jeopardise the peace and stability in the country.’

The AU urged the parties to ‘uphold the spirit of dialogue and compromise’ in order to find, as soon as possible, a peaceful and consensual solution, respectful of the Constitution and the institutions of Madagascar, as well as the relevant AU instruments.

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