afrol News, 8 April - The sacked Malagasy minister of armed forces, Noel Rakotonandrasa, has said his dismissal was based on mere speculation and no fact.
Transitional Prime Minister Camille Vital dismissed Mr Rakotonandrasa, but gave no clear reasons behind the decision, except that the minister had held "suspicious meetings" without his permission.
Mr Rakotonandrasa told journalists at a press conference today, at the ministry's conference hall in the city center Amparibe, that there was never at any time a plot of a coup d'etat or the formational of a military regime.
“If we had wanted, this would have been done, but that is not desirable for us or for Madagascar," he told journalists.
He explained that there were only meetings between the armed forces with the international community and with other personalities, aimed at finding ways to end the Madagascar crisis.
Political observers in Antananarivo have said the decision to sack the minister could have been sparked by unusual acts by some members of the armed forces, who allegedly mounted road blocks at one of the main barracks last month. However, the soldiers’ behaviour has also been dismissed to have been an internal army fracas involving investigations aimed at senior army personnel.
Madagascar has been under an interim transitional government following months of violence and political crisis since the taking over of government in a military backed civilian styled coup that saw the ousting of former president Marc Ravalomanana.
With the former young mayor of Antananarivo, Andry Rajoelina taking over the reins of governance fresh protests by Mr Ravalomanana’s supporters ensued until a deal for an interim government was secured with the help of the regional SADC bloc as well as African Union and other international mediators.
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afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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