Addis Ababa, 11 January 2016 : Within the framework of the follow up of the decisions of the 25th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in June 2015 and the 545th meeting of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), held on 21 September 2015 as well as the activities of the AU Panel of the Wise, the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, dispatched to Antananarivo, Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi, Member of the Panel of the Wise, from 5 to 8 January 2016, to consider with the Malagasy authorities and the other stakeholders the progress made within the context of the strategy to end the crisis.
Mr. Brahimi met particularly the President of the Republic, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the President and members of the High Constitutional Court (HCC), the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Ambassadors, representatives of the local branch of the International Support Group in Madagascar (GISM), former President Marc Ravalomanana, the MAPAR political party of the former President Andry Rajoelina and the Republican Alliance of Madagascar (ARMADA).
The meetings of Mr. Brahimi stressed that Madagascar had made considerable efforts in the establishment of the main State institutions, of good governance, reconstruction and socio-economic development as well as national reconciliation. However, the political situation remains relatively fragile, at a time when many challenges are still to be taken up, especially the implementation of some outstanding aspects of the Roadmap for ending the crisis in Madagascar, such as the completion of national reconciliation and the compensation to be paid by the State to the victims of the crises of 2002 and 2009 and the consensual establishment of the Responsibility Pact, recommended by the High Constitutional Court (HCC) of Madagascar in its Decision No. 24-HCC / D3 of 12 June 2015.
Mr. Brahimi seized the opportunity to urge his interlocutors to persevere in their efforts to consolidate stability, favour dialogue and consultation in the settlement of their disputes, implement, by consensus, the Memorandum of Responsibility, promote national reconciliation and a climate of mutual trust, consider the deep aspirations of the people as well as establish an environment conducive to the consolidation of the democratic gains and socioeconomic recovery of Madagascar.
His interlocutors, for their part, welcomed the mission of the Panel of the Wise to Madagascar and thanked the AU for its support aimed at enhancing the efforts to end the crisis in Madagascar, particularly its support to the security sector reform.
Furthermore, Mr. Brahimi called upon the international community to increase its help to Madagascar and send a significant signal to the next Round Table for that country.