South Africa cautions against deposed Malagasy president's return

Feb 18, 2011, 11:21 GMT

Johannesburg - The South African government has cautioned deposed Malagasy president Marc Ravalomanana not to make one-sided decisions about returning home, according to local media reports Friday.

Ravalomanana announced on Thursday that he would return to Madagascar on Saturday after two years in exile in South Africa to promote talks between various political factions and help prepare for elections on the Indian Ocean island.

'The South African government cautions against any unilateral measures taken prior to the SADC (Southern African Development Community) Organ meeting where the SADC mediator will deliver his report on Madagascar,' the South African government said in a statement.

According to the statement from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, 'no ultimatum has been given to former President Ravalomanana to leave South Africa'.

Ravalomanana, who gained power in 2002, was deposed in March 2009 when then-opposition leader Andry Rajoelina swore himself in as interim president after weeks of demonstrations, that won backing from a mutinous military and saw 100 people killed.

The international community dismissed his power grab as a quasi- coup and slashed aid to the island.

Ravalomanana said he was returning as 'the democratically elected and constitutional president of Madagascar' to ensure talks among all parties and restore democracy. He said he knew people would listen to him, since the Madagascar had become an autocratic state.

Last year he was sentenced in absentia to 20 years in prison for 'abuse of office'.

In January Madagascar's political parties agreed to postpone March 16 parliamentary elections to allow more time to prepare for the poll. Ravalomanana said the proposed presidential election on 4 May could also be shifted.

Read more about Madagascar Politics