Rajoelina upbeat on AU Sanctions

Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP), Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation (left), hand-delivers a special message to H.E. Andry Rajoelina, President of the Transition Government of Madagascar yesterday in the State House located in Antananarivo City. Minister Membe was in Madagascar as a Government Special Envoy to hand-deliver a special message on behalf of President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of the United Republic of Tanzania.

Hon. Membe (2nd left), in discussion with President Rajoelina. Also in the photo are Ambassador Liberata Mulamula (left), Senior Advisor (Diplomatic Affairs) to President Kikwete and interpreter (2nd right).

Hon. Membe holds a press conference after his meeting with President Rajoelina of the Transitional Government of Madagascar.

Hon. Membe in discussion with Mr. Andriatina Jacques Ulrich, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs in Madagascar.

Hon. Membe in discussion with Acting Foreign Minister of Madagascar, Mr. Andriatina Jacques Ulrich (right) and Ambassador Mulamula.

Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP) (2nd left), Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation in a group photo with Mr. Andriatina Jacques Ulrich (left), Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs in Madagascar. Others in the photo are Mr. Mkwizu of the President's Office (right), Mr. Stephen Wambura (2nd right), SADC Liaison Officer (Tanzania) in Madagascar, Mr. Nicodemus Mwangela (3rd right), SADC Liasion Officer (Tanzania) in Madagascar and Mr. Afonso Evaristo Eduardo (3rd left - behind), Liaison Officer (Angola) in Madagascar.

Rajoelina upbeat on AU Sanctions

By TAGIE DAISY MWAKAWAGO

Antananarivo, Madagascar

President of Transitional Government of Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina has appealed to the international community, essentially the AU and SADC to remove the sanctions imposed on his transitional government.

He made such a profound request yesterday when he met with Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP), the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, in his State House located in Antananarivo City. Minister Membe was in Madagascar as a Government Special Envoy to hand-deliver a Special Message on behalf of President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of the United Republic of Tanzania.

Speaking to the reporters after the meeting, Hon. Membe said that the message he carried from President Kikwete was a follow up on the development of transitional government in Madagascar, as it prepares for the upcoming Presidential elections. He further noted that President Kikwete wanted to know the outcome of discussion between President Rajoelina and the United Nations’ Secretary General Ban Ki moon in their recent meeting this year.

President Kikwete currently serves a Chairperson of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC –Troika), after inheriting the Chairmanship from South Africa last August 2012.

On his part, President Rajoelina appealed to President Kikwete to assist in lifting any and all sanctions imposed upon his transitional government and for perpetrating the status quo. Other sanctions targeted the 109 accomplices and confidants of President Rajoelina for their involvement in the 2009 coup d’etat. He explained that the conditions set in the roadmap by the international community have been fully implemented.

Further, President Rajoelina availed the commitment of his transitional government to see a democratic election takes place in July 2013.

In his response, Minister Membe said that the removal of sanctions is not conditional to the return of Marc Ravalomanana, former President of the Republic of Madagascar. “The roadmap is for SADC-Troika to see that the upcoming elections will be fair and profound for the people of Madagascar,” said Hon. Membe.

The sanctions in question were imposed by the African Union and supported by the Southern Africa Development Cooperation (SADC) and the International Community.

Minister Membe further explained that President Rajoelina informed him that his transitional government has fulfilled its obligation as mandated by AU, which included his withdrawal of presidential candidacy in the upcoming elections in July of this year. Others are storing peace and normalcy back in the country in preparation for the democratic election later this year.

Hon. Membe led the Tanzania delegation that included Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, Senior Advisor (Diplomatic Affairs) to President Kikwete, Mr. Mkwizu of the President’s Office, Mr. Assah Mwambene, Director of Information in the Ministry of Communication, Youth, Culture and Sports and other Governmental officials. For the Madagascar’s part, the delegation was led by President Rajoelina, Mr. Andriatina Jacques Ulrich, Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs and other transitional government officials.

Hon. Membe is expected to return back in Dar es Salaam later today.