The Malagasy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Richard Randriamandrato, was dismissed on Tuesday, October 18, on the decision of President Andry Rajoelina, following his vote, two days earlier at the UN, in favor of the resolution condemning « illegal annexations » by Russia from four regions of Ukraine.
The decree signed by the president evoking his dismissal does not give the reasons for his sidelining. Unofficially, according to information relayed by the local press, Randriamandrato is accused of having taken alone this important decision to vote for the resolution during the special extraordinary session of the United Nations on Wednesday, October 12th.
Before this last vote, Madagascar had always refrained from taking a position on this Russian-Ukrainian conflict, camping on neutrality. The big island is on the side of the “non-aligned countries”. Hence many reactions on social networks indignant at the initiative of the now head of diplomacy.
But some observers, both local and foreign, question whether the minister really acted without any directive from the highest level, taking into account the importance of the issue that was the subject of the UN resolution.
Randriamandrato, who told RFI that he made his decision in his « soul and conscience », maintains that « the interest of the nation » was not « endangered by this vote ». On the question of neutrality, he mentioned that “we are not going out of our position of neutrality on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine”.
This minister was appointed head of Foreign Affairs last March during a government reshuffle. He had previously served as Minister of Finance and Budget between January 2019 and August 2021.
The Minister of Defense will take over pending the appointment of a new head of diplomacy.
By OMA Newsletter N° 902 of 19/10/2022
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
