SADC summit sees resolve to move Madagascar forward

At a SADC extraordinary summit held in the margins of the 20th Assembly of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Seychelles Vice President Danny Faure has saluted the teamwork and resolve of SADC member s

At a SADC extraordinary summit held in the margins of the 20th Assembly of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Seychelles Vice President Danny Faure has saluted the teamwork and resolve of SADC member states to move the Madagascar process forward.

The summit has endorsed the declarations by former President Marc Ravalomanana and President of the Transition, Andriy Rajoelina, not to stand in the forthcoming elections in Madagascar in the interests of the Malagasy people.

The Chair of the SADC Troika on Politics, Defense, and Security, President Jakaya Kikwete, commended the โ€œgroundworkโ€ established in the mediation in Seychelles under the leadership of President James Michel and President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, and that those discussions had been a key milestone in getting the two leaders to take the right decision.

In his intervention on behalf of Seychelles President Michel, Vice President Faure highlighted the importance of continuing this support and momentum towards ensuring credible elections in Madagascar. He noted that the Indian Ocean Commission will be bringing over US$1 million to the support of the SADC process and organization of elections and that a liaison office will be established to coordinate this fund. The office will be headed by Ambassador Claude Morel, Seychelles’ current Resident Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa, and to SADC and COMESA.

During the summit, SADC leaders also confirmed their resolve to bring a SADC contribution of US$10 million to support these elections.

The Vice President has also urged that SADC and AU accelerate the process for the lifting of sanctions and return of Madagascar to the SADC and AU family.

The Vice President is currently attending the African Union summit with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Jean-Paul Adam, and Seychelles Permanent Representative to the African Union, Ambassador Joseph Nourrice.

Seychelles is a founding member of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP).

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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