Madagascar Election Day is Here!

I just wanted to share my excitement that election day is finally here for Madagascar! As I write this, the voting may already be wrapping up (though reports of long lines at the polling stations indicate a possible extension). Most news outlets are hopeful (like BBC and Reuters), while others are hopeless. Personally, I am happy to see people get the chance to participate once again in their own country's decisions. Will it be perfect? Probably not, but then few elections are (including my own country's). And there will probably be a run-off. And even after the election, the Malagasy people have a lot of work to do to reclaim their country and its democracy.

Despite my skepticism over the years, I am hopeful that this election will at least be a step forward for the country and its people.  Any positive step would be welcome, and afterwards we can begin to focus once again on the many positive aspects of Madagascar.

So, to everyone participating today, and Madagascar lovers everywhere:
Good Luck, Bonne Chance, Mirary Soa!

Madagascar Presidential Candidate Receives 350 SUVs?

Former Prime Minister and current General Camille Vital is running for President of Madagascar, and with a recent "campaign" gift, he will be travelling in style. Apparently 350 SUVs arrived this week in the port city of Tamatave, linked to Vital and destined for security forces throughout the island. I say apparently because I have not seen too many sources on this story - a Malagasy friend tipped me off to it, and there is a news report here from the Malagasy paper La Nation (fyi: there is a rather gruesome image on the newspaper site) - but not too many other sources exist. Most other news outlets seem preoccupied with the violent news coming out of parts of Madagascar, such as Nosy Be. I don't know how accurate these reports on General Vital are, but if you connect violent outbreaks and poverty with the on-going political crisis in Madagascar then you must pay attention to the political process purporting to pull the country out of its international isolation.

Then-Colonel Camille Vital became Prime Minister in 2009 under Andry Rajoelina, a move many saw at the time as an intimidation measure. It also strengthened Rajoelina's ties to the military, particularly the officer class which supported him in over-throwing former President Ravalomanana. Vital spoke directly and acted tough, particularly when addressing the international community and domestic opposition. At one point, the internationally-mediated road map to end the political crisis demanded a "consensus" prime minister, so Vital stepped down... for a few days, before returning under the "Consensus" Prime Minister guise. He remained in this position until 2011, when President Rajoelina bowed to international pressure and sacked Vital in favor of Omer Berziky. But Vital was also promoted to Brigadier General (*) and eventually landed in the cushy job of "Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva."

Now General Vital is running for President, and with a huge field of candidates lacking a clear favorite (leading candidates Rajoelina, Lalao Ravalomanana, and Didier Ratsiraka were finally barred from participation), his name recognition might be a huge advantage. But more important may be his connections to the security forces. When I saw Madagascar named as a top-5 potential-coup country, I noted the importance of the military and its potential search for a new patron. They may have found that patron in General Vital - supposedly these 200 Hyundai Santa Fes and 150 Nissan pick-up trucks are being distributed to the Department of Justice, the Law Enforcement, and District Leaders. The donors are anonymous, attributed to the group "Hiaraka Isika" who seem to be funding Vital's campaign, so I am wary of both the source of the funds (influencing a potential President-to-be) and the recipients (beholden to a new benefactor).

It is important for Madagascar to achieve its goal of a free and fair election; the rest of us need to pay more attention to the campaigns to support their goal.


(*) I think before he left office?

Here is another old post on the Malagasy security forces for background reading!