The African Union, AU Commission, has urged for calm and restraint in Madagascar as a military coup unfolds in the Indian Island nation.
This is as the whereabouts of President Andry Rajoelina is unknown and a special military unit has announced that it had taken over power in the country.
In a statement, the AU Commission Chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf expressed deep concern over the unfolding situation and called on all parties to engage in dialogue to prevent further instability.
“The Chairperson of the Commission welcomes the Government’s renewed commitment to dialogue and urges all Malagasy stakeholders, both civilian and military, to exercise calm and restraint, and to prioritise peaceful and consensual solutions to the current situation,” the statement said.
The elite military unit, known by its acronym, CAPSAT is the same unit that played a crucial role in the 2009 political crisis, which helped Rajoelina rise to power.
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Protests by youths in September over water and power cuts escalated to reflect wider dissatisfaction with Rajoelina’s government.
Also, high unemployment, corruption, and the cost-of-living crisis are some of the issues raised by the protesting youths.
President Rajoelina earlier denounced the military unit’s power grab. “There is an attempt to seize power at this time in the territory of the Republic, in complete violation of the Constitution and democratic principles,” in a translation”, he said.
The beleaguered Madagascar leader had earlier this month appointed the Head of the armed forces as interim prime Minsiter after he dissolved the last government amid the youth protests.
Source: AP
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
