By RIVONALA RAZAFISON

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Madagascar President Hery Rajaonarimampianina has resigned ahead the November 7 presidential vote.

The Constitution requires the incumbent leader to quit office 60 days before the vote if seeking re-election.

“Since I am candidate, I have to comply with the law,” he said when addressing the nation on Friday evening.

The country’s High Constitutional Court approved his resignation.

Senate leader Mr Rivo Rakotovao will be the acting head of state until the inauguration of the next president in January.

At his last Cabinet meeting on Thursday, President Rajaonarimampianina named new army generals and appointed new ambassadors to Russia and China.

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He also met the African Union High Representative for Silencing the Guns in Africa, Algerian diplomat Mr Ramtane Lamamra at State House Iavoloha.

Before announcing his resignation on Friday he held talks with the new International Monetary Fund representative in Madagascar, Mr Marc Gérard.

Mr Rajaonarimampianina is the first president to resign ahead of an election following the adoption of new electoral laws in 2010.

He faces 35 presidential aspirants among them three former head of states.

On Thursday, 16 candidates led by veteran leader Didier Ratsiraka, said they wanted the November 7 election postponed. </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> 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> Dozens of soldiers on Sunday threw a cordon around a public square in Madagascar's capital where opposition protests against new electoral laws have killed one person in the restive island nation.

They later vacated the square, clearing the way for some 100 opposition activists to gather, an AFP reporter at the scene said.

One person died and at least 17 were wounded in clashes on Saturday between thousands of opposition activists and security forces in the same square during demonstrations against new laws the opposition claims favour the ruling party and put in place obstacles to the disadvantage of opponents.

The large Indian Ocean island of Madagascar is due to hold presidential and legislative elections in late November or December.

Authorities had last week declared the Saturday protest illegal but opposition activists defied the order and forged ahead with the demonstration.

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

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> Several opposition protesters were wounded on Saturday when clashes broke out between Madagascar's police and military, and thousands of activists against new election laws ahead of a vote later this year.

Authorities had on Tuesday declared the protest illegal but opposition activists defied the order and forged ahead with the demonstration which saw thousands throng outside the city hall in Antananarivo.

Security forces fired teargas to disperse the crowd and some reacted by hurling rocks at the officers.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a doctor at a local hospital said medics had treated 11 people who were injured in the clashes.

"I'm told there are dead people and I can vouch that I personally saw one dead person," an opposition MAPAR lawmaker Hawel Mamod Ali told reporters.

There was no immediate information from authorities.

The opposition has accused the government of President Hery Rajaonarimampianina of wanting to muzzle it ahead of presidential and legislative elections to be held in late November or December.

Opposition MPs charge that three newly adopted laws favour the ruling party.

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

Meanwhile two former heads of state have already mooted runs: Marc Ravalomanana, who was president from 2002 to 2009, and Andry Rajoelina, who succeeded him.

Both were barred from running in 2013.

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> Dozens of soldiers on Sunday temporarily threw a cordon around a public square in Madagascar's capital where opposition protests against new electoral laws have left two people dead in the restive island nation.

The soldiers later vacated the square in Antananarivo, clearing the way for some 100 opposition activists to gather, an AFP reporter at the scene said.

The demonstrators are protesting against new electoral laws that the opposition claim could stop some candidates from standing in upcoming presidential elections.

The large Indian Ocean island is due to hold polls in late November or December.

Two people died in violence on Saturday, hospital chiefs updated on Sunday, and at least 16 were wounded after clashes between thousands of opposition activists and security forces in the square.

Authorities had declared the Saturday protest illegal, but opposition activists defied the order.

"I came here to pay homage to those killed yesterday here," said protester Nirina, who refused to give her surname.

"I was afraid that there would be more deaths today, but fortunately the soldiers left," she added, saying that she thought more soldiers had been deployed.

She said she and other protesters were calling for President Hery Rajaonarimampianina "to resign".

Rajaonarimampianina, who returned Sunday from a trip abroad, is expected to address the nation on Sunday night.

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 have been involved in the protests.

Madagascar endured several years of turmoil after Ravalomanana was ousted as president in the 2009 coup.

He 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.

"I have lived under different regimes in Madagascar but it is this one, under Rajaonarimampianina, which is the worst," said protester Aime Abel Jocelyn, who travelled 500 kilometres from the town of Betroka.

"I came here to help bring change... to find a solution for my country."

The European Union mission in Madagascar in a statement called on the country's political actors to exercise restraint and expressed its support for "credible, transparent and inclusive presidential elections in 2018".

The African Union representative in Madagascar, Ahmed Youssouf Hawa, also called for calm, restraint and accountability.

"Madagascar does not need to plunge back into a difficult situation just a few months before the elections," he said in a statement. </s> The president of Madagascar on Sunday condemned as a “coup” deadly opposition-led protests against new electoral laws and warned “troublemakers” against further action.

“I call on all the people of Madagascar to be calm, respect democracy, but what happened on Saturday is nothing but a coup,” President Hery Rajaonarimampianina said in a television address, referring to clashes between security forces and police and opposition protesters.

“We must all be convinced that a coup d’etat brings no solution for our country’s future. I warn troublemakers and those who insist on hatred and clashes in search of a bloodbath or loss in human life,” he added.

Two people were killed and 16 wounded in the clashes on Saturday.

Dozens of soldiers had earlier been deployed around the public square in the capital of the restive island nation.

The soldiers later vacated the square in Antananarivo, clearing the way for some 100 opposition activists to gather, an AFP reporter at the scene said.

The demonstrators were protesting against new electoral laws that the opposition claim could bar some candidates from standing in upcoming presidential elections.

The large Indian Ocean island is due to hold polls in late November or December.

Authorities had declared the Saturday protest illegal, but opposition activists defied the order.

“I came here to pay homage to those killed yesterday here,” said protester Nirina, who refused to give her surname.

“I was afraid that there would be more deaths today, but fortunately the soldiers left,” she added, saying that she thought more soldiers had been deployed.

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 have been involved in the protests.

Madagascar endured several years of turmoil after Ravalomanana was ousted as president in the 2009 coup.

He 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.

“I have lived under different regimes in Madagascar but it is this one, under Rajaonarimampianina, which is the worst,” said protester Aime Abel Jocelyn, who travelled 500 kilometres from the town of Betroka.

“I came here to help bring change… to find a solution for my country.”

The European Union mission in Madagascar in a statement called on the country’s political actors to exercise restraint and expressed its support for “credible, transparent and inclusive presidential elections in 2018”.

The African Union representative in Madagascar, Ahmed Youssouf Hawa, also called for calm, restraint and accountability.

“Madagascar does not need to plunge back into a difficult situation just a few months before the elections,” he said in a statement. </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> Madagascar’s top court announced results of the November 7 presidential election on Wednesday, confirming that ex-presidents Marc Ravalomanana and Andry Rajoelina would be contesting a second round of the poll.

According to the High Constitutional Court, Ravalomanana garnered 35.35 percent of the vote while Rajoelina got 39.23 percent.

The result also means incumbent President Hery Rajaonarimampianina who managed just 8.82 percent will not take part in the second round, due on Dec. 19.

The country’s electoral law provides that the top two candidates advance to a second round, if no one obtains an absolute majority of fifty percent plus one vote.

We now present to you the profiles of the two candidates who have been flagged off to contest a second round of the presidential poll.

Both candidates, who have governed the Indian Island ocean before, are bitter rivals.

Ravalomanana was toppled by protests led by Rajoelina in 2009. The African Union and other international organisations described it as a coup.

Madagascar’s elected leader from 2002 until he was overthrown in 2009, Ravalomanana is known to voters as “the milkman” because he owns the country’s leading dairy conglomerate.

Following a power struggle and weeks of bloody street protests, the self-made millionaire businessmen was toppled in a military coup and replaced by Rajoelina.

He lived for years in exile in South Africa before returning to Madagascar in 2014 to mount his political comeback.

Ravalomanana, 68, says the country has gone backwards since he was ousted.

If elected, he told Reuters in an interview:

“We will rebuild everything they have destroyed, repair the roads that we built when I was president and that have not been maintained until now.”

A former disc jockey who goes locally by the nickname “TGV” after the fast French train, Rajoelina seized power from then President Marc Ravalomanana in 2009.

Known for his rapid-fire rhetoric and charisma, he became Africa’s youngest president at the age of 34.

During his four years in power, poverty and corruption grew as investors and donors cut aid.

He supported Rajaonarimampianina in the 2013 election after he agreed not run himself to help restore order.

This time, the former president is promising infrastructure development – everything from hospitals, schools and sports stadiums – and pledging to improve beaches to make them “like those of Miami and Côte d’Azur” to draw more tourists and promote job creation.

This is the first time Ravalomanana and Rajoelina are facing off at the ballot, and they both called for a higher voter turnout following Wednesday’s proclamation 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,’‘ Rajoelina told reporters.

“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.

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

Judge Rakotoarisoa also cautioned the two hopefuls to “avoid provocations” as they headed into what is expected to be a close contest.

“The people of Madagascar do not need trouble,” he said.

Madagascar, a former French colony, is well known for its vanilla and precious redwood, and will be hoping for a peaceful election.
Madagascar President Hery Rajaonarimampianina resigns from office in order to contest the November presidential election, as required by the Constitution. Senate president Riko Rakotovao [fr] becomes interim President of Madagascar until the January 2019 inauguration of a new president.