P 101927Z APR 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
INFO AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO PRIORITY

UNCLAS STATE 035767 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AORC EAID MA
SUBJECT: SUPPORTING THE AU'S EFFORTS TO ENSURE AN EARLY 
RETURN TO CONSTITUTIONAL RULE IN MADAGASCAR 
 
REF: ANTANANARIVO 258 
 
¶1. This is an action request.  Please see paragraphs 2-4. 
 
¶2. (U) Department requests embassies in African Union (AU) 
member states demarche host governments at the highest 
appropriate level to pursue objectives listed in paragraph 4. 
 
¶3. (SBU) For Harare, Asmara, Khartoum, Nouakchott, Conakry: 
Posts are requested not to deliver this demarche if they 
determine that it would be counterproductive or unlikely to 
result in any positive action. 
 
¶4. (U) OBJECTIVES: 
 
-- Express appreciation for the AU's strong stance against 
the unconstitutional change of power in Madagascar. 
 
-- Note that the U.S. fully supports the AU,s statements on 
this matter, including its suspension of Madagascar for an 
initial six month period, its call for early elections, its 
intention to form a Contact Group to coordinate international 
community action to ensure a return to constitutional rule, 
and its rejection of the Rajoelina regime,s proposed October 
2010 election timetable. 
 
-- Emphasize that the U.S. considers the recent series of 
events in Madagascar a military coup and as a result is 
required by U.S. law to suspend all assistance programs that 
directly benefit the Government of Madagascar (GOM) until a 
democratically-elected government is in place. 
 
-- Note our concern about positions of some EU member 
countries who intend to continue all functioning pre-coup 
programs without interruption; the upcoming EU political 
dialogue with the Rajoelina regime launching on April 16 will 
likely put pressure on the EU as a whole to follow suit. 
 
-- Urge host governments to seek support from key donors to 
Madagascar for an immediate return to constitutional rule in 
Madagascar and the need for new, free and fair elections, 
preferably within six months. It is also essential to press 
key donors to support the AU position, and in particular to 
do nothing that legitimizes the Rajoelina regime, including 
through their assistance programs.  Without coordinated 
international pressure, the Rajoelina regime is unlikely to 
move quickly to restore democracy. 
 
¶5. (U) Department requests USAU raise the following points 
with the AU,s secretariat: 
 
-- Stress our support for the AU,s intention to form an 
International Contact Group to coordinate international 
community action to ensure a return to constitutional rule, 
and for the AU,s rejection of the Rajoelina regime,s 
proposed October 2010 election timetable.  Inquire what the 
USG can do to assist the Contact Group efforts. 
 
-- Note we are demarching EU member states to urge them to do 
nothing to legitimize the Rajoelina regime, including through 
their assistance programs.  Without coordinated international 
pressure, the Rajoelina regime is unlikely to move quickly to 
restore democracy. 
 
-- Outline that we are also asking AU member states to 
intervene with Madagascar,s principal donors to ensure they 
do nothing to legitimize the Rajoelina regime. 
 
-- Share our hope the people of Madagascar will take the 
steps necessary to return to democratic legitimacy and be 
able to continue important development activities with 
international community participation. 
 
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BACKGROUND 
---------- 
¶6. (SBU) After several months of opposition protests, failed 
negotiations, and mutiny by the military, 
democratically-elected President Ravalomanana was forced to 
resign from office March 17, issuing a decree that 
unconstitutionally passed his powers to the highest-ranking 
military officers.  These officers were in turn forced by 
mutinous lower-ranking military officials to transfer power 
to former Mayor Andry Rajoelina via another unconstitutional 
decree. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Rajoelina has declared himself &President of the 
High Transition Authority,8 named a cabinet, disbanded the 
National Assembly and the Senate, and pledged to hold 
presidential in October 2010, following a constitutional 
referendum and revision of the electoral code.  The AU has 
called for elections within 6 months, suspended Madagascar 
and warned the AU may impose sanctions if constitutional 
order is not quickly restored.  SADC has condemned the coup 
and has not recognized Rajoelina,s government. 
 
¶8. (U) The Department has determined that the recent change 
of the government in Madagascar amounts to a military coup 
and therefore triggers the foreign assistance provisions of 
section 7008 of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, 
and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2009.  Under Section 
7008, we are legally required to suspend any aid programs 
that finance directly any assistance to the GOM. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Although many other donors in Madagascar are still 
deliberating on future of their assistance programs, several 
have moved to suspend support to the GOM.  The notable 
exception is France, which intends to continue all 
functioning pre-coup programs without interruption; with 
France leading the upcoming EU political dialogue launching 
April 16 with the Rajoelina transitional government, the EU 
will likely be under pressure to follow suit (ref.) 
 
¶10. (U) The Department greatly appreciates assistance and 
engagement from post on this issue. Please report results of 
the effort via front-channel cable AF/E, no later than OOB 
EDT Wednesday, April 15. 
 
¶11. (U) Please contact AF/E Maria Beyzerov at (202) 647-6453 
or via email for any additional information required to meet 
our objectives. 
 
 
CLINTON