PSC/AHG/2(CCL)
Annex 4
Page 17
(c)
Madagascar
57.
No real progress has been made in the process of finding a consensual solution
to the crisis in Madagascar since the unconstitutional change the occurred on 17 March
2009. The de facto authorities have rejected the Maputo Agreement of 6 August 2009
and the Addis Ababa Additional Act of 6 November 2010, whose implementation was to
lead to the restoration of constitutional order, as the culmination of a consensual and
inclusive transition. They have since embarked on a unilateral approach, marked in
particular by the holding of a constitutional referendum, on 17 November 2010, which
should be followed by parliamentary elections, on 16 March 2011, and the first round of
the presidential elections, on 4 May 2011. A coup attempt took place on the day of the
referendum on the new Constitution, thus indicating the precarity of the situation in the
country and the absence of a consensus on the current process.
58.
The situation in Madagascar is a real challenge to SADC and the AU, as well as
to the entire international community. No effort should be spared to ensure that this
challenge is addressed and the current impasse broken, through a consensual solution.
In this context, it is important to further mobilize the international community, in particular
the AU partners, for the scrupulous implementation of the sanctions decided by Council
in February and March 2010.
IV.
OBSERVATIONS
59.
The holding of the Special Session and the adoption of the Tripoli Declaration
and Plan of Action marked a watershed in the overall efforts of our continent to address
the existing conflict and crisis situations and promote sustainable peace. On that
occasion, the Heads of State and Government made a far-reaching pledge regarding
their determination to deal once and for all with the scourge of conflict and the steps to
be taken in this respect. This pledge has raised high expectations; no effort should be
spared to ensure that those expectations are met and that our common promise of a
conflict-free Africa is fulfilled.
60.
Undoubtedly, significant progress has been made in the implementation of those
two landmark documents, over the past fifteen months. We have recorded significant
gains in strengthening our normative framework, operationalizing the various
components of APSA and, more importantly, in addressing existing conflicts and
consolidating peace where it has been achieved, while, at the same time, stepping up
our engagement in both the critical, yet often invisible, work of preventing the
occurrence of conflicts in the first place and long-term efforts to address the underlying
causes of violence and conflicts. The AU has demonstrated dynamism and leadership,
and is today a key player in the overall efforts aimed at ending conflicts and sustaining
peace on the continent.
61.
Yet, we have a long way to go to fulfill the promises made in Tripoli. A number of
critical AU instruments are yet to be ratified by most of our Member States, while the
level of implementation of, and compliance with, the commitments made remain uneven.