The head of the commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssef, confirmed in a statement to a Western news agency that “the suspension of the country’s membership came into immediate effect.” This followed the decision of the Supreme Court in Madagascar to appoint Colonel Michel Randrianirina as the president, which led to a political crisis in this Indian Ocean country.
Western media agencies reported on Tuesday that the military, after ousting the president, announced that it had taken over power in Madagascar and was dissolving all state institutions except the National Assembly (House of Representatives).
President Andry Rajoelina had previously decided to dissolve parliament amid preparations for a vote in the National Assembly to oust him. However, members of parliament convened and voted to remove him. Subsequently, the military declared its takeover of power.
Rajoelina stated last Monday that he was forced to move to a safe place to protect his life, amidst the turmoil in the country. In an address to the nation, he said he “was forced to move to a safe place to protect his life,” without disclosing his unknown whereabouts.
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced last Monday that Moscow hopes peaceful options for resolving the conflict have not yet been exhausted. It calls on all parties to exercise restraint and advises Russian citizens to refrain from traveling to the country until the situation stabilizes.
