Sao Tome and Principe’s ruling party lost an absolute majority in the country’s National Assembly, after the small archipelago in the Gulf of Guinea held parliamentary and local elections on Sunday, according to provisional results.

The center-right Independent Democratic Action (ADI) party which has been in power since 2014, won the legislative elections, but with only 25 of the 55 seats in the Assembly – against 33 previously – according to provisional results released on Monday by the country’s National Electoral Commission.

The ADI plans to join the Sao Tome and Principe Independent Citizen Movement party (MCISTP), which won two seats, but still that will not be enough to ensure a majority.

The Socialist opposition party, the Sao Tome and Principe Liberation Movement – Social Democrat Party (MLSTP-PSD), won 23 seats and plans a coalition with five MPs from a coalition of other small opposition parties.

The final results will be announced in the coming days by the Constitutional Court.

On Sunday, some 90,000 voters in the archipelago of 200,000 inhabitants turned out for the polls.

On Monday evening, hundreds of people demonstrated in front of the Sao Tome Electoral Commission offices alleging fraud in favor of the ADI.

Judge Natacha Amado Vaz’s car was burned down and riot police intervened to disperse the protesters.

Sao Tome and Principe is considered a model of democratic alternation in Central Africa. The country, which lives off cocoa and coffee and is 90% dependent on international aid, opened up to multiparty politics in 1991, after fifteen years of Marxist and one-party rule by President Manuel Pinto da Costa, who led the country since its independence from Portugal in 1975. </s> One person died and 16 others were injured in clashes between Madagascar's security forces and thousands of opposition activists protesting against new election laws ahead of a vote later this year in the politically-volatile island nation.

"We received 17 wounded today, one of whom succumbed to his wounds," Olivat Alison Aimee Rakoto, head of the hospital HJRA in Antanannarivo, told AFP. He did not specify if the injured were protesters or police.

Authorities had earlier in the week declared the protest illegal but opposition activists defied the order and forged ahead with the demonstration which saw thousands throng a public square outside city hall in the capital of Antananarivo.

Clashes erupted after police fired tear gas to try to disperse the protesters as the crowd grew and overwhelmed the security forces, occupying the square, an AFP reporter at the scene said.

Some of the opposition supporters reacted by hurling rocks at the officers.

There was no immediate comment from authorities on the protests.

The opposition has accused the government of President Hery Rajaonarimampianina of wanting to muzzle it through new electoral laws in the run-up to presidential and legislative elections due to be held in late November or December.

The opposition claims that three new laws, adopted earlier this month, favour the ruling party and put in place obstacles to the disadvantage of opponents.

Rajaonarimampianina is out of the country on official business, according to his office, which did not specify where he was.

"The message to the president of the republic who is out of the country, is that it would be good that you remain where you are," an opposition lawmaker Hanitriniaina Razafimanantsoa said.

Elected in 2013, Rajaonarimampianina has not yet announced whether he will stand for re-election.

But two former heads of state have already mooted runs: Marc Ravalomanana, who was president from 2002 to 2009, and Andry Rajoelina, who removed him during a coup.

Both were barred from running in 2013 and their parties were behind Saturday's protests.

The Indian Ocean island nation endured several years of turmoil after Ravalomanana was ousted as president in a 2009 coup that led to the withdrawal of foreign investment and donor money.

Ravalomanana was overthrown in 2009 after an army mutiny that allowed Rajoelina -- then Antananarivo mayor -- to become the country's unelected transition president until 2014.

Rajaonarimampianina's arrival in power brought an end to a long series of political crises in Madagascar. </s> ANTANANARIVO - Two former presidents of Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina and Marc Ravalomanana, will face each other in a run-off election next month to decide who will lead the Indian Ocean island nation, the country's top court announced on Wednesday.

The run-off comes after neither candidate won the 50% of votes required for a first-round victory on 7 November, with Rajoelina on 39.23% and Ravalomanana 35.35%, according to final results released by the Constitutional Court.

The run-off vote is due on 19 December.

It is the first time the bitter rivals have faced each other at the ballot box.

Both Ravalomanana, 68, and Rajoelina, 44, were banned from running in the last election in 2013 under international pressure to avoid a repeat of deadly political violence that engulfed the island in 2009.

Ravalomanana ruled from 2002 to 2009 until he was ousted in a military-backed coup that installed Rajoelina, who was in power until 2014.

Rajoelina's succcessor and the country's immediate past president Hery Rajaonarimampianina was eliminated from the race after he came a distant third with just 8.82% of the ballots cast in November. </s> Port Louis — Mauritian Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth handed over power to his son Pravind on Monday despite anger from the opposition which has called for new elections in the island nation.

Jugnauth, 86, officially handed his resignation to President Ameenah Gurib Fakim — whose role is ceremonial — after long hinting he would step down before his term expires in 2019.

"The job of prime minister involves great responsibility. It is a great burden. I have carried it but now it is time to make way for the youth," he said after resigning.

His son Pravind, 55, was then handed a letter nominating him to the post ahead of a swearing-in ceremony set for later on Monday.

Mauritius is a model of political stability in Africa, however the handover has created turbulence on the Indian Ocean island, best known as a dream beach holiday destination.

The younger Jugnauth is both finance minister and leader of the ruling Militant Socialist Movement (MSM). Constitutionally, it is he who takes over if the prime minister resigns.

However the opposition has rejected his "inheritance" of the position, and will be boycotting his inauguration.

"The best would have been for the prime minister to dissolve the national assembly before his resignation and call an early election," said opposition leader and former prime minister Paul Berenger.

That sentiment is shared by numerous residents phoning in to local radio shows, declaring they voted for Jugnauth senior in 2014, not his son.

Jugnauth has done several stints as premier since 1982 and one in the ceremonial role of president.

"It is a shame he has ended more than 50 years of political career in this way. We will organise a political campaign across the country to demand the holding of general elections," Berenger said.

Mauritius, an island of 1.3-million inhabitants, regularly tops the Mo Ibrahim index of African governance, and has held a series of peaceful elections and smooth handovers of power since independence from Britain in 1968. </s> Madagascan President Hery Rajaonarimampianina's resignation comes after several protests against the president's efforts to change electoral laws in favor of his party



ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar – Madagascan President Hery Rajaonarimampianina stepped down Friday, September 7, in line with the constitution, to contest elections in which he will face rivals including opposition leader and ex-president Andry Rajoelina.

Rajaonarimampianina resigned two months ahead of the November 7 vote on the Indian Ocean island that has been beset by political instability.

"The time has come for me to resign in accordance with the constitution and today I have submitted my request to the constitutional court," he said in a brief televised speech.

Mounting protests earlier this year forced Rajaonarimampianina to accept the formation of a "consensus" government tasked with organising the election.

Demonstrators took to the capital Antananarivo's central square between April and June over Rajaonarimampianina's efforts to change electoral laws that opponents said were intended to favor his party.

The proposals were overturned by the courts.

But the protests morphed into a full-blown movement to oust Rajaonarimampianina. Clashes between activists and the security forces claimed two lives and left more than a dozen injured.

Also on the ballot paper will be opposition leader Marc Ravalomanana, Rajoelina's predecessor as civilian head of state.

Rajoelina removed Ravalomanana from power in a coup in 2009.

If no candidate receives more than 50 percent in the first round, a second round of voting will be held on December 19.

Madagascar, a former French colony with a population of 25 million, has been endured decades of political crises and grinding poverty.

The country's interim leader will be senate Speaker Riko Rakotovao. –Rappler.com </s> United Democratic Party (UDP) leader Ousainou Darboe smiles at a polling station in Bakau on April 6, 2017 during legislative elections. Darboe won an absolute majority in the election. Photo: SEYLLOU / AFP

BANJUL, Gambia - The Gambia's longtime opposition UDP won an absolute majority in parliamentary elections, easily defeating the party of ousted leader Yahya Jammeh, results announced Friday showed.

"(I) hereby declare the final results as follows: UDP won 31 seats; APRC (Jammeh's party) won five seats," in the 58-chamber parliament, Independent Electoral Commission chairman Alieu Momar Njie declared at the commission headquarters. </s> ANTANANARIVO (REUTERS) - One person was killed on Saturday (April 21) when Madagascar police fired tear gas at opposition demonstrators protesting against new electoral laws they say are designed to lock out their candidate from a presidential election due this year.

Olivat Rakoto, director of the Joseph Ravoahangy Andrianavalona hospital in the city, said they had received 17 people with injuries from midday to 3pm (8pm Singapore time).

"One person came but we could do nothing for him when he arrived," she said, referring to the dead person, one of the 17.

Rakoto did not comment on the nature of the injuries but some witnesses at the hospital said some were caused by gas canisters.

Prime Minister Olivier Mahafaly said an investigation would be carried out and action taken against those responsible, adding the government would start talks on the new laws.

"The dialogue to find the consensus is what will enable us to arrive at durable solutions," he said on state radio.

"The government is ready for dialogue to find this consensus." Supporters of Marc Ravalomanana, a former leader of the Indian Ocean island nation, say the new electoral laws are designed to prevent him running in the election.

The opposition is also contending provisions on campaign financing and access to media in the laws.

Ravalomanana, who was deposed in a 2009 coup, has teamed up with the man who succeeded him, Andy Rajoelina, to oppose the laws pushed by President Hery Rajaonarimampianina.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in the centre of the capital early on Saturday to protest against the laws which were enacted by parliament earlier this month, before police fired dozens of teargas canisters at the crowd.

One opposition lawmaker accused the government of attacking opposition MPs while carrying out their work and demanded the president's resignation.

"Hery Rajaonarimampianina has to resign, he attacks members of Parliament which are in the line of their duty," said Paul Bert Rahasimanana who represents a constituency in the capital.

"We just wanted to do some report on the adoption of electoral laws and he sends us forces of repression." Police later retreated from the scene outside the mayor's office, leaving about 1,000 opposition supporters protesting peacefully.

"We are here because we need freedom of speech and because we do not agree with the authoritarian government," said Fafah Rasoanirina, a 24-year old protester.

The opposition says the law requires a presidential candidate to produce a report on all previous judicial convictions, which could be a disadvantage for their candidate. Ravalomanana was convicted by a court when he was in exile after the 2009 coup for a range of offences.

He has already said he will run in the election due before the end of this year though the precise date has yet to be set. </s> One person died and 17 others were injured Saturday in clashes between Madagascar’s security forces and thousands of opposition activists protesting against new election laws ahead of a vote later this year in the restive island nation.

Prime Minister Olivier Mahafaly Solonandrasana said in an address on state television that the country faced a “sad” day with the loss of a life during the demonstrations.

“According to the official report, there is one death and 17 wounded,” he said.

Earlier, Olivat Alison Aimee Rakoto, head of the public hospital HJRA in Antananarivo, had told AFP that they had attended to “17 wounded…, one of whom succumbed to his wounds”. He did not specify if the injured were protesters or police.

The premier said an investigation had been launched “to shed light on the cause of this death”.

“We must now get rid of our habits of looking for solutions through violence,” he said.

Authorities had earlier in the week declared the protest illegal but opposition activists defied the order and forged ahead with the demonstration, which saw thousands throng a public square outside city hall in the capital of Antananarivo.

Clashes erupted after police fired tear gas to try to disperse the protesters as the crowd grew and overwhelmed the security forces, occupying the square, an AFP reporter at the scene said.

Some of the demonstrators reacted by hurling rocks at the officers.

The opposition has accused the government of President Hery Rajaonarimampianina of wanting to muzzle it through new electoral laws in the run-up to presidential and legislative elections due to be held in late November or December.

The opposition claims that three new laws, adopted earlier this month, favour the ruling party and put in place obstacles to the disadvantage of opponents.

Rajaonarimampianina is out of the country on official business, according to his office, which did not specify his location.

“The message to the president of the republic who is out of the country, is that it would be good that you remain where you are,” opposition lawmaker Hanitriniaina Razafimanantsoa said.

Elected in 2013, Rajaonarimampianina has not yet announced whether he will stand for re-election.

But two former heads of state have already mooted runs: Marc Ravalomanana, who was president from 2002 to 2009, and Andry Rajoelina, who removed him during a coup.

Both were barred from running in 2013 and their parties were behind Saturday’s protests.

The Indian Ocean island nation endured several years of turmoil after Ravalomanana was ousted as president in the 2009 coup that led to the withdrawal of foreign investment and donor money.

Ravalomanana was overthrown following an army mutiny that allowed Rajoelina — then Antananarivo mayor — to become the country’s unelected transition president until 2014.

Rajaonarimampianina’s arrival in power brought a temporary end to Madagascar’s long series of political crises. </s> ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) - An ex-president of Madagascar and the man who overthrew him in a 2009 coup will compete to become the island state’s next leader in a run-off election in December after the two came top in a first-round vote that eliminated the incumbent.

FILE PHOTO: A combination photo shows former Madagascar's Marc Ravalomanana on February 17, 2011 and former Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina on December 18, 2013 respectively. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings and REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File Photos

Former president Marc Ravalomanana garnered 35.35 percent of the vote in the first round on Nov. 7, behind his successor, Andry Rajoelina, who got 39.23 percent, the High Constitutional Court ruled on Wednesday.

Incumbent President Hery Rajaonarimampianina drew just 8.82 percent, the court said, and will not take part in the second round, due on Dec. 19. The court rejected his request for the vote to be canceled and Rajoelina’s votes invalidated, saying there was insufficient evidence of widespread irregularities.

Rajoelina told reporters after the court’s announcement of results: “I appeal to all citizens, to those who did not vote, it is not too late. The time to save Madagascar has come. Vote in the next election. I reach out to those who are not yet convinced. Take my hand.”

Madagascar is hoping for its second peaceful election since the upheaval of 2009 when Ravalomanana was toppled by protests led by Rajoelina in what the African Union and other international organizations said was a coup.

Rajoelina’s takeover prompted an exodus of foreign investors from Madagascar, which is one of the world’s poorest countries despite reserves of nickel, cobalt, gold, uranium and other minerals. It is also the world’s biggest producer of vanilla.

Madagascar, a sprawling island off the coast of southeastern Africa, held its last elections in 2013.

The constitutional court also reported a turnout of 53.95 percent among registered voters.

“I appeal to those who did not come to vote. You have an electoral card, come and vote. The country’s future for the next five years is at stake,” said Hanitra Razafimanantsoa, vice-president of the National Assembly and a member of Ravalomanana’s TIM party.

Though relative political stability since the 2013 election has enabled the economy to rebound, about 80 percent of the population of 25 million lives on less than $2 per day.

Madagascar was rocked by a fresh crisis in April sparked by a legal amendment by Rajaonarimampianina’s government that would have prevented Ravalomanana from standing for office. Rajaonarimampianina later removed that provision.
The ruling Independent Democratic Action (ADI) under Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada loses its absolute majority in the National Assembly.