Political crisis in Madagascar: A call for citizen mobilization
Madagascar is currently plunged into a political crisis which threatens the stability of the country in the run-up to the presidential elections. Faced with this worrying situation, the civil society platform “Rohy” launched a call for the mobilization of citizens to express their fed up and demand dialogue between the different political actors.
Despite attempts at mediation by religious leaders and the international community, discussions between the presidential candidates have so far been unsuccessful. It is in this context that “Rohy” is counting on the strength of the citizen movement to move the lines. Indeed, the organization warns of the dramatic consequences that this crisis could have on the country for the next five years if no action is taken.
The technical coordinator of “Rohy”, Harijaona Andriamoraniaina, explained that the organization plans to organize an event called “flag at half mast” starting from Thursday. The objective is to give a new opportunity to every household and every citizen to make their voice heard and demand dialogue between leaders to get the country out of this impasse.
Alongside this initiative, the country’s largest union platform, Solidarité Syndicale de Madagascar, has threatened to go on strike if stakeholders fail to begin negotiations before Thursday. This prospect worries many actors, who fear the consequences of a paralysis of public administration on the entire population, including on the electoral ambitions of some.
In order to make their voices heard in a more concrete way, Malagasy citizens are called to make noise this Friday from 12 p.m. Whether using pots, bells or horns, the objective is to symbolically mark the urgency of resolving the political crisis.
It is time for political leaders to hear the voice of the Malagasy people. If a solution does not emerge quickly, the consequences could be disastrous for a country already weakened by numerous difficulties. The Malagasy people aspire to stability and a better future. It is therefore imperative that political actors find common ground and take the necessary measures to emerge from this crisis. Citizen mobilization is a strong signal that must not be ignored. Madagascar deserves a stable and prosperous future, and this requires dialogue and the resolution of political differences.