New national unity government appointed in Madagascar

AFP

ANTANANARIVO — Madagascar's Prime Minister Camille Vital Saturday appointed a new government of "national unity transition" in an effort to resolve the two-year long crisis in the country.

There are few surprises in the composition of the new administration, made up of 32 ministers, of whom eight are already in office.

The vast island nation has been in political limbo since opposition leader Andry Rajoelina toppled president Marc Ravalomanana with the army's backing on March 17, 2009 but failed to muster the domestic and foreign backing necessary to set up an internationally recognised transitional government.

Rajoelina dismissed previous deals brokered by the African Union and the Southern African Development Community to share power with the man he ousted and two other ex-presidents, and his own plans to form a unity government have been rejected by his opponents.

The latest bid by the southern Africa bloc saw Rajoelina and several small political groupings initial a deal on March 8 calling for the appointment of a consensus prime minister to head a unity government.

Rajoelina's re-appointment earlier this month of Vital, who resigned last week under the latest deal, sparked criticism by some opponents, but the strongman said he had sufficiently consulted.

The new government is supposed to mirror all the political groups that signed up to a roadmap proposed by international mediators.

Vital said it should "act as a caretaker administration and head with all speed to the elections."

The three movements associated with former presidents are not in the new government though a younger brother of one has a ministerial job.