Madagascar’s feuding political leaders ended two days of talks on Tuesday without signing a deal on ending the crisis sparked by strongman Andry Rajoelina’s takeover of the island two years ago.
The talks, which were convened by the 15-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC), ended at about 6pm (4pm GMT) with a press statement that sought to highlight the common ground between the 11 political parties present but did not say why the leaders had failed to reach an agreement.
The statement said all the parties agreed on “the return of the country to constitutional normalcy as a matter of urgency” and the “holding of free, fair, transparent and credible elections”.
But there was no word on the more contentious issues dividing the island’s leaders: the return of exiled ex-president Marc Ravalomanana and the refusal by Ravalomanana and two other former presidents to sign off on a SADC “road map” that would make Rajoelina president of a transitional government.
Full Article: Two days of talks, but still no end to Madagascar impasse – News – Mail & Guardian Online.