An electoral mission, mandated by the Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), is in Madagascar. A delegation to assess the electoral context and the ongoing preparations for the presidential election.
A marking on the panties. A common expression in football to tell a defender that he must not let go of a key player from the opposing team. An expression that allows
image the maneuvers of the international community vis-à-vis the electoral process.
In order to strengthen the actions of the local diplomatic corps, the United Nations (UN) deploys missionaries from its central bodies, more specifically from its department of political affairs and peace. Following a meeting with Yvette Sylla, Minister of Foreign Affairs, yesterday in Anosy, it was specified that this “electoral mission” is mandated by Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, himself.
The delegation that will be in Madagascar for a week is made up of Graham Maitland, director of the East Africa division and Simon-Pierre Nanitelamio, deputy director of the UN electoral assistance division. The latter is well known to the Malagasy authorities and political actors. From 2012 to 2015, he was the principal technical adviser of the Support Project for the Electoral Cycle in Madagascar (PACEM). A project supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
PACEM, as a reminder, was the basis for setting up the “basket fund”, for international participation in the financing of electoral processes to end the crisis from 2013 to 2014. This time, therefore, it is in as part of a mission to assess the pre-election context that Simon-Pierre Nanitelamio is once more dispatched to the Big Island. The term of reference for this UN mission indicates that its purpose is “to assess the political situation and the preparations underway for the presidential election”.
Guardrail
Following their meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs yesterday, Graham Maitland gave an official and diplomatic version of the reason for the UN mission in the Big Island. “It’s regarding seeing how the United Nations can best support the government and Madagascar so that the electoral process can take place in the best possible way”, is the free translation of his remarks by Issa Sanogo, resident coordinator of the United Nations, Madagascar.
Issa Sanogo adds, for his part, that this mission is “an encouragement to continue on this democratic path in which Madagascar has been committed for a few years”. In his brief statement in English, Graham Maitland speaks of “strengthening the democratic process, in a climate of peace”. In response, Minister Sylla assured of the State’s desire to hold a presidential election “in the best conditions”.
Maintaining and strengthening the democratic gains following the 2013 and 2018 presidential elections are therefore the main objectives of the international community. To this end, the delegations dispatched by the headquarters of international bodies follow one another. Before this UN mission, there was the delegation led by the executive secretary of the Development Community of Southern African States (SADC), who was in Madagascar last week.
At the local level, the diplomatic corps is also mobilized. In view of a press release published on Saturday, the day following the multi-stakeholder consultation on the elections, they now speak with one voice when it comes to the elections, especially the presidential one. This joint missive is blurred with the logos of the United Nations at the top, then of the European Union, the African Union, the UNDP and the International Organization of Francophonie (OIF).
In this press release, these international entities “welcome” the holding of the event organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) on Friday. “This dialogue aims to create the most favorable conditions for the conduct of a peaceful electoral process, through open discussions on the various aspects of the process and on the current concerns of the actors (…) The continuation of the dialogue is important and will contribute , without a doubt, to establish a climate of trust that guarantees peace and social cohesion”, they say.
In addition to joint and unequivocal actions, diplomats reinforce the tight marking regarding the presidential election, through visits to the officials concerned. This is the case, in particular, of Claire A. Pierangelo, Ambassador of the United States. Yesterday, the diplomat met Florent Rakotoarisoa, president of the High Constitutional Court (HCC). The crucial role of the Court of Ambohidahy in the credibility and transparency of the elections and the importance of the confidence of the population were underlined during the interview.
This commotion from the international community might indicate some concern regarding the national situation. It is also a sad indicator of the lack of democratic and republican maturity of the political actors, to the point that at each presidential election, international pressing is necessary to serve as a safeguard.
