FRENCH AMBASSADOR PUSHED OUT OF MADAGASCAR

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANTANANARIVO 000504


DEPT FOR AF/E AND EUR/WE
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV FR MA
SUBJECT: FRENCH AMBASSADOR PUSHED OUT OF MADAGASCAR

Classified By: CDA George N. Sibley for Reasons 1.5 (B/D).


1. (U) Barely six months into his tour, Gildas Le Lidec, the
French Ambassador to Madagascar, announced his imminent
departure at the 14 of July National Day celebrations held at
his residence. Shocking most of the assembly, including
Foreign Minister Marcel Ranjeva, who was present as President
Marc Ravalomanana's representative, Le Lidec bluntly stated
that he was leaving because he had not been permitted to
fulfill his diplomatic role.


2. (U) Every paper in Madagascar featured this as front page
news the following day, several of them noting that, since
presenting his credentials in February, he had been rebuffed
11 times in requesting audience with Ravalomanana. Caught
off guard by Le Lidec's announcement, Ranjeva improvised,
pointing out that the relations between Madagascar and France
remain strong and noting that the Government of Madagascar
had not sent any diplomatic note asking that Le Lidec be
withdrawn. He drew the distinction between nations and
persons, acknowledging that perhaps discussions about Le
Lidec had taken place at "another level."


3. (C) The poorly kept secret is that the "other level"
discussion was a direct appeal by Ravalomanana to French
President Sarkozy asking that Le Lidec be withdrawn. The
rather eccentric rationale, also bruited in the newspapers,
is that Le Lidec is "unlucky." Some Malagasy contacts
suggest the President's reasoning is quite logical, but
couched in Malagasy terms that are difficult for Westerners
to understand. According to them, Ravalomanana has
reportedly noted that several of Le Lidec's previous posts,
including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Cote
d'Ivoire, have fallen into conflict after his arrival and
questions whether this is merely a coincidence. Of course,
the process of agreement would normally have been the proper
context to voice such concerns and seek a different
ambassadorial nominee. In private conversation with the
Charge, Le Lidec expressed as much disappointment in his own
government for acceding to such a bizarre request as he did
at the Malagasy President for having made it.


4. (SBU) At the same occasion, Le Lidec announced the
forthcoming visit to Madagascar of Alain Joyandet, French
Minister of State for Cooperation and Francophony. While Le
Lidec did not give dates for this or for his own departure,
it would be extremely awkward for the Ambassador to remain
for this high-level visit. Most expect Le Lidec to be gone
by the end of July.


5. (C) COMMENT. With France having just assumed the
Presidency of the EU, this bombshell comes at an inauspicious
time, given Madagascar's desire for increased assistance from
both France and the EU. It also highlights Ravalomanana's
growing capriciousness. In a previously-scheduled meeting of
the senior diplomatic corps (minus Le Lidec) the following
day, most ambassadors agreed that Ravalomanana seems to be
growing increasingly isolated from both his diplomatic
partners and even from his own government. We see it the
same way. END COMMENT.


SIBLEY