Talks between Madagascar’s strongman, Andry Rajoelina, and the president he toppled, Marc Ravalomanana, which were set for this weekend have been postponed, a statement said on Tuesday.
The two were to hold discussions in South Africa on Saturday in an effort to resolve the Indian Ocean island’s political impasse since Rajoelina ousted his rival in March 2009. The meeting will now be held on April 28.
“The postponement was agreed upon following a request by South African and French authorities, who are the main mediators in this new phase of negotiations,” said the statement from Madagascar’s de facto government.
The delay was to allow for the right conditions for the signing of a new agreement, the statement explained.
An Antananarivo-based diplomat confirmed the postponement.
Former presidents Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy are expected to be present during a second phase of talks between Ravalomanana and Rajoelina.
The four political leaders had previously signed a power-sharing accord, which was spurned by Rajoelina, prompting the African Union to slap travel and economic bans on him and scores of his backers last month. — AFP