SADC SOMMET SUR MCAR SERA UNE AUTRE GRANDE DECEPTION POUR LES PRO le8
le8 N' EST PAS PAS INVITE OFFICILELEMENT
L' APPEL de la SADC POUR DES OPERATIONS MILITAIRES NE FAIT PAS L' UNANIMITE AU SEIN MEME DE LA SADC . LA PREUVE IL N Y AURA QUE 4 PAYS PRESENTS : L' AFRIQUE DU SUD, LA TANZANIE, ZIMBABWE DE MUGABE ET SWAZILAND DE MSWATI III QUI ONT REPONDU A L APPEL
LES USA ONT DEJA DIT NON A L'USAGE DE LA FORCE DE MEME QUE L' EUROPE
African security body meets on Madagascar crisis
By Tabelo Timse – 41 minutes ago
JOHANNESBURG (AFP) — A regional security body was meeting Friday on the crisis in Madagascar, after international mediation efforts were suspended this week over the army-backed ouster of president Marc Ravalomanana.
The talks came on the eve of a special summit of the 15-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC), which will look for ways to restore order on the vast Indian Ocean island where opposition leader Andry Rajoelina seized power three months ago.
"What the summit is to do, is to support all that can be done to bring constitutional order back in Madagascar," said the bloc's executive secretary Tomaz Salomao.
But hopes for breaking the stalemate on the island appeared limited, as neither Ravalomanana nor Rajoelina have been invited to the summit on Saturday in Johannesburg.
Madagascar has been suspended from SADC and no one has been invited to officially represent the country, Salomao said.
Ravalomanana, who is living in exile in South Africa, has asked to give a statement to the summit, Salomao said. But the leaders will only decide on Saturday if he will be allowed to do so.
Talks were launched on April 8 between Rajoelina's transitional authority and supporters of Ravalomanana, who is still recognised by the international community as the island's lawful leader.
But the mediation by the African Union and the United Nations was suspended on Tuesday, with no date set for a resumption.
"At this stage, all the relevant parties have asked for time to consult and get advice" on the negotiations, Salomao told reporters.
Ravalomanana has been lobbying regional leaders to support his return to power, even suggesting that military options be considered.
"SADC has consistently called for the immediate return of constitutional order and democratic rule in Madagascar," Ravalomanana said in a statement, praising the last-minute decision to hold the summit.
"Clearly urgent action is required to achieve those goals," he said.
Earlier this month another African grouping, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, backed Ravalomanana's call to consider military options.
That's something SADC has shown little appetite for, with South Africa's Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane on Thursday reiterating the bloc's commitment to political talks to end the impasse.
"We believe there is no other solution for Madagascar except for a political solution and we think that can only be found through this process and hence us hosting the extra-ordinary summit," she said.
"Having said that, we cannot stand by as the chair of SADC and watch the country falling apart," she added. "The information we are getting from Madagascar is that all is not well on the ground."
So far only four leaders have confirmed their plans to attend the summit, Salomao said.
Presidents Jacob Zuma of South Africa, 200 ans avant Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania were expected at the talks, along with King Mswati III of Swaziland.
The 35-year-old Rajoelina seized power with the army's blessing and support on March 17. He promised elections for 2010 but is constitutionally five years too young to run for president.
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