The Madagascar Crisis, SADC Mediation and the Changing Indian Oceanic Order

Abstract

The political stability of Madagascar has been fragile for decades. In 2009, Madagascar experienced what was considered to be an unconstitutional change of government when power was usurped from then president, Marc Ravalomanana, by then mayor of the capital, Andry Rajoelina, with military assistance. The 2009 crisis is indicative of the vulnerability of this island state to deep-seated structural factors relating to its history, geostrategic position on the Indian Ocean and elite cultures. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) would lead the condemnation of this forced change of government as unconstitutional and refuse to recognise Rajoelina as a head of state of what was then suspended Madagascar.