Police in Madagascar have arrested 21 people in connection with a failed assassination attempt on President Andry Rajoelina last month, which authorities have described as an attempted coup. Among the 21 arrested are 12 military personnel, including five generals, two captains, and five non-commissioned officers. Four retired national and foreign police and military officials have also been arrested, including two French citizens, while the remaining five were civilians. Furthermore, authorities seized two cars, a shotgun, and $250,000.
Attorney General Berthine Razafiarivony said the arrests were made following an investigation into an “attack on state security,” and revealed the plan also included the “killing and neutralisation” of other senior political officials. He added, “The physical evidence in the hands of the investigators is tangible and made it possible to identify the main instigators of the operation.”
In fact, on June 26, there was another assassination attempt on General Richard Ravalomanana, who is seen as a critical ally of the president.
Rajoelina first came to power in 2009 via a military-backed coup to oust erstwhile leader Marc Ravalomanana. He remained as transitional president until 2014 then defeated Ravalomanana in 2018 with 56% of votes, in an election that was marred by allegations of fraud.
This political unrest comes at a time of severe drought and food shortages in the country; Madagascar has the fourth-highest malnutrition rate in the world. In June, World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director David Beasley said that the country is going through its “worst drought in four decades,” forcing several families to travel hours to reach WFP food distribution locations.
Beasley declared, “This is not because of war or conflict, this is because of climate change.” Over 1.14 million people in the country are “food insecure” and the Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) level among children under the age of five in the country doubled from February to 16.5%.
Likewise, in May, WFP’s Senior Director of Operations, Amer Daoudi, said that 1.35 million people in Madagascar require emergency food and nutrition aid. He noted that over the course of this year, acute malnutrition in the southern districts has increased from 9% to 16%, and to 27% in some districts.
Aside from a sustained period of economic downturn, this hunger crisis has also been attributed to repeated droughts, sandstorms, and other “climate shocks.”
Madagascar Arrests 12 Military Personnel Over Assassination Attempt on President Rajoelina
The arrests were made following an investigation into an “attack on state security,” and the foiled plan also reportedly included the “killing and neutralisation” of other senior political officials.
August 3, 2021
SOURCE: AFP / RIJASOLO