Statement on Transition in Madagascar

• Country/entity

  Madagascar
  
• Region

  Africa (excl MENA)
  
• Agreement name

  Statement on Transition in Madagascar
• Date

  22 May 2009
• Agreement status

  Multiparty signed/agreed
• Interim arrangement

  Yes
• Agreement/conflict level

  Intrastate/intrastate conflict ( Malagasy Political Crisis (2009) )
• Stage

  Pre-negotiation/process
• Conflict nature

  Government
• Peace process

  Madagascar peace process
• Parties

  Not signed, but agreement mentions the negotiations included "the Rajoelina group, the Ratsiraka group, the Ravalomanana group and the Zafy group"
• Third parties

  Not signed, but agreement mentioned negotiations were conducted, "under the auspices of
  international mediators from the African Union (AU), the Southern African
  Development Community (SADC), the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie
  (OIF) and the United Nations (UN)."
• Description

  A joint statement on negotiations on a transitional arrangement. Provisions discuss when elections should occur, an amnesty, and the different institutions that will be a part of the transition.

• Agreement document

  MG_090522_Statement on Transition in Madagascar.pdf | Download PDF

Groups

Gender

State definition

Governance

Power sharing

Human rights and equality

Rights related issues

Rights institutions

Justice sector reform

Socio-economic reconstruction

Land, property and environment

Security sector

Transitional justice

Implementation

Statement on Transition in Madagascar, 22 May 2009

The multilateral negotiations seeking to establish a neutral, peaceful and consensual transition in Madagascar resumed on Wednesday 20 May 2009 under the auspices of international mediators from the African Union (AU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) and the United Nations (UN).

All political forces of Madagascar are represented at the negotiating table.

They are gathered around four enlarged political groups:

the Rajoelina group, the Ratsiraka group, the Ravalomanana group and the Zafy group.

Negotiations are ongoing in view of securing the endorsement of all groups for a Charter of the Transition, which will provide a framework for the consensual management of the transition leading to free, fair and transparent elections as soon as possible.

To date, the negotiations have succeeded in reaching agreement on a number of points.

First, all parties have agreed on the following principles:

• The need for a neutral, peaceful and consensual transition.

• The participation of former Heads of State and the Head of State of the Transition in the next presidential election.

After a long debate, the Malagasy parties decided to respect the right of former Heads of State and the Head of State of the Transition to run in the election.

• The elections will take place at the earliest possible date within a period of 14 months based on an assessment by international and national experts of Madagascar’s capacity to organize credible elections.

• A special statute ensuring the dignity and guaranteeing the security of former Heads of State will be drafted.

A Council of Wise Men regrouping all former Heads of State will also be established.

Second, parties reached agreement on the establishment of all transitional institutions.

These are:

• The High Transitional Authority

• The Transitional Government of National Unity

• The Transitional Congress

• The National Reconciliation Council and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, mandated to review recent Malagasy history, promote national reconciliation and assess issues of reparations and compensations.

• The Economic and Social Council of the Transition

• The High Court of the Transition

• The Reflection Committee on National Defense and Security

• The Independent Electoral Commission

The ongoing discussions are focused on the composition and formula for the proportional distribution of seats among executive and legislative institutions.

A general amnesty, excluding gross violations of human rights, war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes of genocide, is also under discussion for infractions linked to the events of a period yet to be specified.

The international mediators call on all parties to make the concessions necessary to reach agreement on all remaining questions and conclude the negotiations in order to establish a concerted transition.

Antananarivo, 22 May 2009.