Rais Andry Rajoelina (pichani)azidi kupeta
PRESS RELEASE
STATEMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA ON THE UNCONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE OF POWER IN THE REPUBLIC OF MADAGASCAR
The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania has received with profound consternation, news of the forced resignation of the democratically elected President Marc Ravalomanana of the Republic of Madagascar.
Forcing a democratically elected head of state to resign by a mutinous faction of the military, at the instigation of a section of the population, is a serious set-back for the cause of entrenching the spirit of democracy and good governance on the African continent, and for the Republic of Madagascar; it is tantamount to a military coup which is unacceptable. For Madagascar, this event negates the will of the people and denies them of their basic right, to elect the leaders of their choice democratically. It is also a reminder of Madagascar’s dark past of military coups that took place in 1975 and 1991.
Furthermore, the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania considers the forced resignation as being an unconstitutional change of power in the Republic of Madagascar, and is strongly opposed to it as it goes against the letter and spirit of the Constitutive Act of the African Union, the Protocol Establishing the Peace and Security Council of the African Union and the Lome Declaration of July 2000, all of which prohibit unconstitutional changes of Governments on the African continent.
For these reasons the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania does not recognize the illegal regime of Mr. Andry Rajoelina.
The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania joins the African Union and SADC, in urging an expeditious return to Constitutional rule and in demanding the de facto authorities comply scrupulously with the provisions of the Constitution of Madagascar relating to interim arrangements in the event of resignation.
To this end the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania calls on the parties concerned to uphold the spirit of dialogue and compromise, with a view to finding a peaceful constitutional solution to the crisis and restoring democracy in Madagascar.
The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania calls on the Madagascar military to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the President and his family, his associates, respect for individual and collective freedoms and prevent any act of violence or intimidation and protect property.
ISSUED BY: MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, DAR ES SALAAM
20 MARCH, 2009