SADC DECLARATION ON MADAGASCAR

PRESS RELEASE

The Chairman of The Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), His Excellency Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania has welcomed and fully commends the public declaration made last night (Tuesday, January 15, 2013) by His Excellency Andry Rajoelina, President of the Transition of Madagascar that he will not stand as a candidate in the forthcoming Presidential Elections scheduled for this year.

President Kikwete has commended President Rajoelina for this courageous decision which demonstrates beyond any reasonable doubt his commitment and his aspirations to the maintenance and promotion of peace in Madagascar and his patriotism to his country and to his own fellow Malagasy people.

Following this declaration, the chairman of the Organ Troika on behalf of SADC Summit has now issued the SADC Declaration on Madagascar as adopted by the Organ Troika Summit held in Dar Es Salaam on the 10 – 11^th of January, 2013. The Declaration was embargoed pending the statement by President Rajoelina.

 

 

Following is the Declaration:  

 

 

 

 

SADC DECLARATION ON

 

 MADAGASCAR

Recalling all the decisions taken by the SADC Summits of Heads of State and Government on the political situation in Madagascar;

Recognizing the need of preserving the interests of the Malagasy people;

Reaffirming:

(i)          that the Roadmap remains the only viable mechanism for ending the crisis in Madagascar;

 

(ii)        further our commitment to help the Malagasy people put an end to the political crisis in Madagascar and return the country to constitutional normalcy; 

(iii)      the need of respecting the electoral calendar as adopted by the National Independent Electoral Commission of the Transition (CENIT) and the United Nations (UN). 

We, Presidents Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete (of the United Republic of Tanzania), Hifikepunye Pohamba (of the Republic of Namibia), and Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma (of the Republic of South Africa) of the SADC Organ Troika and President Armando Emilio Guebuza, (of the Republic of Mozambique), Chairperson of SADC, hereby decide as follows:  

1.          Welcome and commend the  undertaking made by H.E. Andry Rajoelina, President of Transition in Madagascar and H.E. Marc Ravalomanana, former President of Madagascar to the effect that they will not stand for the forthcoming Presidential and Parliamentary elections;

2.          Urge the Malagasy people to promote the spirit of reconciliation, peace and stability  and to refrain from all acts of destabilization in the country; 

3.          Also urge the Malagasy political stakeholders to assume their responsibility of peacefully delivering Madagascar out of the crisis; 

4.          Reiterate that Government Members should resign from office sixty (60) days before the election date, should they decide to run for the legislative and/or presidential elections as provided for in Article 14 of the Roadmap; 

5.          Also reiterate that “the President, the Government, the Heads of Institutions and the entire administrative machinery of the Transition shall remain neutral during the transition period, particularly in the electoral process” (Article 15 of the Roadmap); 

6.          Further reiterate the SADC endorsement of the electoral calendar of the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections scheduled for May and July 2013;

7.          Call upon the Malagasy Parliament of Transition to enact legislation to grant comprehensive amnesty to H.E. Andry Rajoelina, President of the Transition in Madagascar and H.E. Marc Ravalomanana, former President of Madagascar. This amnesty should also be extended to the Malagasy security forces;  

8.          Urge the Malagasy Parliament of Transition to enact legislation on status of former Malagasy Presidents. This legislation should include relevant privileges and immunities; 

9.          SADC leadership and the SADC Mediator on Madagascar will continue to be seized with the matter.

 

Done in Dar es Salaam

United Republic of Tanzania

10 January 2013

 

 

Issued by:
 

Directorate of Presidential Communications,

 

State House
 

Dar Es Salaam

 

16^th January, 2013