Switzerland offers to mediate in Madagascar
Swiss diplomats have put forward a plan for a peaceful solution to the 12-day political crisis that has crippled Madagascar.
The Indian Ocean island’s capital, Antananarivo, has been paralysed by a general strike called by the opposition candidate, Marc Ravalomanana, who is contesting the validity of President Didier Ratsiraka’s election victory last December.
Dominik Langenbacher, chargé d’affaires at the Swiss Embassy in Antananarivo, said diplomats were attempting to broker a meeting between the president and the leader of the opposition.
Crisis talks
The announcement comes one week after Ravalomanana met with the Swiss ambassador to Madagascar for talks aimed at resolving the escalating crisis.
“We presented him with a list of propositions for a political solution to the crisis,” Langenbacher said.
“[But] a solution can only be achieved if both parties agree to come together for talks,” the diplomat added.
Langenbacher said Switzerland was prepared to work towards a resolution of the crisis by acting as a facilitator.
An emergency mission of French parliamentarians arrived in the country on Friday in a separate bid to break the political deadlock.
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