Madagascar’s Disposed President Ravalomanana Says He
Resigned At Gunpoint
African Regional News Updates
01 April 2009
Antananarivo - Madagascar's ousted
president Marc Ravalomanana said he signed his
resignation last month at gunpoint, during a speech to
regional leaders, a copy of which was obtained by AFP
on Wednesday.
"I never resigned. I was forced to hand power over, at
gunpoint," he said, describing the events of March 17,
when he relinquished power under pressure from the
army and cleared the way for Andry Rajoelina's
takeover.
Ravalomanana was speaking to leaders of the Southern
African Development Community (SADC) at an
extraordinary summit in Swaziland on Monday.
"My family and I were surrounded by soldiers
threatening our lives. My son and his wife were forced
to hide in the forest. The only escape for us was out
of the country," he said.
Ravalomanana said Rajoelina had dispatched troops to
the presidential palace where he was holed up,
dispersing loyalist supporters and taking over the
building.
When Ravalomanana resigned, he transferred power to a
military board which subsequently refused to take
charge and placed the 34-year-old opposition leader
Rajoelina at the helm of the Indian Ocean nation.
SADC made an unprecedented decision at its special
meeting to suspend Madagascar from the grouping,
describing Rajoelina's accession to power as a coup
and calling for constitutional order.
Madagascan army chief of staff Andre Andriarijaona
denied the military had marched on the president's
palace.
"He probably said that to get SADC's backing," he told
reporters.
A foreign diplomat posted in Antananarivo who made
several visits to the Iavoloha presidential palace on
March 17 said he saw no military presence that day.
"I saw no soldiers, no military vehicles... I
witnessed no use of force. President Ravalomanana's
supporters just remained there," the diplomat said on
condition of anonymity.
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