Catholic Church leaders in Madagascar have urged a return to dialogue after the Indian Ocean island’s president was forced into exile by a military takeover on October 14. Source: OSV News.
“The political situation remains heated, so we can’t yet speak of any stability,” said Fr Seraphin Rafanomezantsoa, coordinating secretary of the Madagascar bishops conference.
“It’s highly debatable how far this new regime can organise the country and direct appointments. Although street demonstrations have calmed for the moment, the immediate course of events can’t be foreseen,” he said.
The priest spoke as Colonel Michael Randrianirina, head of Madagascar’s elite CAPSAT military unit, was installed on October 17 as provisional head of state, replacing the ousted president Andry Rajoelina.
Fr Rafanomezantsoa said the bishops’ conference had no information as yet about Catholic injuries or damage to Church properties during the disorder, which erupted in late September, adding that its members were now in their dioceses with “no immediate plans” for a joint statement.
“Although the protests were relatively calm here in the capital, Antananarivo, there were harsh confrontations with gendarmes and the military in other regions, where tensions between rulers and citizens have accumulated for years” Fr Rafanomezantsoa said.
“The bishops are following the country’s plight closely with prayer, while acting as observers, ascertaining and analysing what’s happening after this latest precipitation of events.”
Speaking on October 14 outside Antananarivo’s presidential palace, Colonel Randrianirina announced he “seized power” and suspended the constitution after joining the side of mostly youthful protesters.
He added that his forces, who were greeted with applause and flag-waving, would rule alongside a civilian government, pending new elections after two years.
Meanwhile, Madagascar’s National Assembly voted to impeach Mr Rajoelina, who took power in a 2009 popular uprising and was twice elected president in 2018 and 2023.
However, the assembly’s vote was rejected as illegal in a social media post by the 51-year-old president, a former businessman, who left the country on October 12 aboard a French military plane, according to Radio France International.
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Madagascar Catholic Church leaders urge calm as military seizes power (By Jonathan Luxmoore, OSV News)
