Rivals prepare for Dakar 2 as clashes continue

Diplomatic efforts were stepped up on Thursday to bring Madagascar's bitter political foes back to the negotiating table. While news reports said that both men agreed to meet on neutral ground for a second time, IRIN learnt that former president Didier Ratsiraka had yet to give the nod of approval to fresh talks in Dakar, Senegal. UN Development Programme coordinator Adama Guindo said: "Ravalomanana responded positively while Ratsiraka did not say no. However, preparations for renewed talks are underway in the Senegalese capital." African mediators led by Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade appealed to the two rival leaders to renew contact after the largest military clash over the weekend since the political turmoil began in December. Fighting between Ravalomanana's forces and troops loyal to Ratsiraka erupted in the northeastern town of Sambava on Monday leaving 15 people dead. Wade played a major role two months ago in getting the two rivals to sign an accord aimed at ending the six-month-long political dispute. The accord made provision for a recount of the votes, which showed that Ravalomanana had, as he had insisted all along, won the presidency. Ratsiraka's supporters refused to accept the result and refused to take down their barricades around the capital. After meeting the Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), Amara Essy, and the French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin in Gabon, Wade appealed to the "sense of responsibility" of the two Malagasy leaders. In a statement, Wade said that an OAU economic aid package to help Madagascar recover would be considered in the event of a political agreement. Ratsiraka has refused to entertain any dialogue with Ravalomanana since last week's arrest of his former prime minister, Tantely Andrianarivo. Andrianarivo was placed under house arrest last week after military forces loyal to Ravalomanana raided his official residence. On Thursday it was still unclear if Andrianarivo remained under arrest. Meanwhile, Dakar 2, as the local Malagasy press refers to renewed dialogue between the warring camps, is timely. L'Express daily reported on Thursday: "The call for new talks is long overdue as the situation on the ground is fast deteriorating." On Thursday Ratsiraka backers had reportedly dislodged the pro-Ravalomanana mayor of the port city of Mahajanga in the northeast. Last month Mahajanga was the scene of fresh violence between two of the country's largest ethnic groups. L'Express also reported that the chief of the armed forces appointed by Ratsiraka intended to "hand over on 7 June to the one appointed by Ravalomanana." Two weeks ago, two chiefs of the national gendarmerie switched political camps suggesting that the otherwise neutral military were warming to Ravalomanana. "However, it is unknown if the apparent unity of the armed forces would trickle down to the operational units of the army and the gendarmerie," Guindo added. As talks of Dakar 2 continues to offer the Malagasy people the prospect of peace, aid agencies warned of an impending humanitarian crisis as fuel and food remain scarce in Antananarivo. Since Tuesday, public transportation unions in the coastal city of Tamatave have been demonstrating against the increase of a fuel price that has almost doubled in areas under the control of Ratsiraka.