SADC DEMARCHE ON MADAGASCAR

UNCLAS STATE 063557


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV MA SADC
SUBJECT: SADC DEMARCHE ON MADAGASCAR

REF: ANTANANARIVO 444



1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 2.
Info only for Antananarivo.

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OBJECTIVES
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2. (U) Department requests embassies in SADC member states to
demarche host governments at the highest appropriate level
prior to the Southern African Development Community (SADC)
meeting in South Africa on June 20 to pursue the following
objectives:

-- Express appreciation for SADC,s strong stance against the
unconstitutional change of power in Madagascar.

-- Stress our aim to support SADC, the AU, the Francophonie
and the UN in coordinated efforts to create a consensual,
negotiated process leading to elections before the end of

2009. Emphasize elections as the only legitimate way to
return Madagascar to constitutional order.

-- Stress that Ravalomanana,s statements about the
possibility of a "SADC Brigade" restoring him to power, a
suggestion which has been recently reinforced by statements
from the leaders of Swaziland and Zimbabwe, and in the recent
COMESA Summit Communique, are unrealistic and unhelpful.

-- Explain our conviction that support for the forceful
reinstatement of Marc Ravalomanana is an impediment to
promoting political dialogue and change in Madagascar, as it
removes any incentive for Ravalomanana or his supporters to
work seriously towards early new elections, as has been
demonstrated over the past three months since SADC suspended
Madagascar as a member.

-- To support the peaceful resolution of this crisis, suggest
that SADC issue a statement strongly and unambiguously
calling for all Malagasy parties to rejoin the negotiating
table, with no reference to an alternative military option.
This will help unlock the way forward to elections before the
end of 2009.

-- Reinforce our agreement with the June 16 AU/UN/OIF
statement, asserting that the international community will
not support a unilateral solution to end this crisis, and
that any such effort is not likely to succeed. Negotiations
have been suspended temporarily, but the international
community will remain engaged in hopes that each of the four
political movements will use this opportunity to reconsider
their positions, and return to negotiations prepared to
compromise.

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BACKGROUND
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3. (SBU) Democratically-elected President Ravalomanana was
forced to resign from office March 17, issuing a decree that
unconstitutionally passed his powers to the highest-ranking
military officers. These officers were in turn forced by
mutinous lower-ranking military officials to transfer power
to former Mayor Andry Rajoelina via another unconstitutional
decree. Rajoelina has declared himself "President" of the
High Transition Authority, named a cabinet, and disbanded the
National Assembly and the Senate. International mediators
from the African Union, the United Nations, and the
Francophonie (OIF) have since attempted for forge a
compromise and generate a plan for democratic elections, but
formally suspended negotiations on June 16 between
Madagascar,s four main political movements (ref.) They fear
that the upcoming SADC Summit will produce another
unrealistic and unhelpfully rigid SADC statement. The
mediators have since called for the four political movements
to reconsider their positions.


4. (U) Department greatly appreciates assistance and
engagement from posts on this issue. Please report results of
this effort via front-channel cable to AF/E as soon as
possible.

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POINT OF CONTACT
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5. (U) Please contact AF/E Maria Beyzerov at (202) 647-6453
or via email for any additional information required to meet
our objectives.


CLINTON