Madagascar: island even more isolated after coup

Ravalomanana turned over power last week to top military officers, who then offered their support to Rajoelina. The country's Army chief, Col. Andre Ndriarijaona, told reporters recently that the military was united in its support for Rajoelina.

"It's not true that some regiments are against the current regime," he insisted, adding that he would take actions against people spreading rumors about alleged divisions within the military.

Rajoelina has accused the deposed leader of squandering funds and undermining democracy. He has promised to hold elections within two years. He has also vowed to rewrite the Constitution: The current document forbids people under 40 from serving as president. Rajoelina is 34.

At his swearing-in ceremony Saturday in front of an estimated 40,000 people, Rajoelina promised to improve Malagasy life and pledged to follow "the principles and rules of good governance."

Despite being home to some of the planet's most unique creatures – including thousands of plant and animal species found nowhere else – the majority of people here subsist on less than $2 a day.

Many shops, after weeks of being closed, have reopened in recent days. Food remains relatively abundant in markets, except for a noticeable lack of dairy products – the deposed president owned a major dairy business, which has been looted.

"Local yogurt, cheese, butter have completely disappeared," says a shopkeeper in a pavilion in Analakely, the center of the capital.

Government ministries remain beset by instability and have not resumed providing services, though, says Angeline Ranivosoa, an engineer employed at the Ministry of Agriculture. "Up to now, we haven't seen any concrete decision taken by this new government."

Looting and unrest has spread beyond the capital, with problems being reported in even the most remote corners of the island.

According to National Geographic News, forest rangers are now abandoning their posts and the country's prized national parks are being invaded by loggers, who seek rare rosewood and ebony trees. Primatologist Mireya Mayor told the magazine that the world's rarest primate species – including two endangered species of lemur – could be wiped out because of habitat loss caused by the illegal logging.

"I'm ... at a loss to describe how bad this situation is," she said. "Thirty years of successful conservation initiatives are now at risk of being totally destroyed."

Pedro Opeka, a Roman Catholic priest and prominent antipoverty activist, says that all of the island's inhabitants, human or animal, are being hurt by the power struggle.

"This situation will be hard for Madagascar," he says. "The poor will suffer the most."

Previous

1 | 2