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afrol News, 18 April - The two rival Presidents of Madagascar, Marc Ravalomanana and Didier Ratsiraka have both signed a reconciliation agreement in Dakar. The Presidents of Senegal, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire and Mozambique acted as mediators, together with OAU Secretary-General Amara Essy. According to the deal between the two rivals, they are to await the recount of the disputed December presidential elections, which the Malagasy Supreme Court had ordered yesterday. While incumbent President Ratsiraka expects this will show neither of them obtained the necessary 50 percent of the votes, challenger Ravalomanana expects the recount to show he won outright, as independent election observers have claimed all along. A recount was the original demand made by Ravalomanana, but it was refused by the Constitutional High Court and Ratsiraka. If the recount shows none of the contestants has won outright, "a popular referendum to choose between the two candidates will be organised" within six months under international supervision, the deal outlines. The referendum is to be held with the help of the United Nations, the European Union and the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). Meanwhile, given nobody won outright, Ravalomanana will step back from his self-proclaimed presidency. President Ratsiraka is to head a transition government together with a Prime Minister both rivals agree to. If the recount shows Ravalomanana won outright, Ratsiraka will step down and transfer powers to the former. Until then, hostilities are to cease immediately. Also the roadblocks hindering supplies to the capital (Antananarivo) - a city controlled by Ravalomanana - are to be lifted. Ravalomanana and Ratsiraka have now agreed to "respect the freedom of movement of goods and people, to immediately stop all threats and violence against people and goods, and the dynamiting of bridges, and to lift all blockades throughout the country," the UN media IRIN quoted from the accord. The news agency AP quoted Ravalomanana saying it was "on time this crisis found its solution." Over the last weeks, fears had grown that the conflict between the two "Presidents" would lead to a full scale civil war. Over thirty Malagasies have lost lives in the escalating fighting. Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade had urged to two to meet in Dakar and participate in the ongoing the international conference on the financing of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) to take advantage of the reconciliation efforts by leading African statesmen. Wade had expressed concern the rivalry of the two men "could destroy their country." The signing of the reconciliation agreement in Dakar under the auspices of the forming NEPAD is also seen as a major victory for this emerging African organisation. One of NEPAD's aims is to handle African conflicts to create peace and greater security; one of the principal necessities for development and investments.
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