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. -------------- OBJECTIVES -------------- ¶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. -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶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. -------------- POINT OF CONTACT -------------- ¶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