By Nomore Chinoda
Following an invitation by the authorities of the Republic of Madagascar, the United Nations (UN) is deploying a mission to observe the island’s Presidential election scheduled for October 25 this year.
The African island nation that has been suspended from both the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) is going for polls to elect a new President following the unconstitutional removal from power of elected President Marc Ravalomanana by mobs led by Andry Rajoelina in 2009.
Since Rajoelina ousted Ravalomanana, Madagascar has been in deadlock.
Early this year, UN leader Ban Ki-moon said their main aim was to restore the legitimate government of Madagascar.
“The UN assistance to the electoral process in Madagascar is conditional upon strict adherence by all parties to the road map as the sole frame work for restoration of the full legitimacy of the government of Madagascar,” said the UN Secretary General.
He also said the observers are going to employ a systematic assessment of the electoral process in accordance with the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.
Head of SADC Mission to elections in Madagascar Nandi Ndaitwah said the country is ready to go for elections and that she was satisfied with the way the Malagasy people are conducting themselves during the campaigns.
There are 33 candidates contesting the Presidential elections, nine of the candidates include three prominent political leaders who were withdrawn by the Special Electoral Court after their registration had not complied with the laws of Madagascar.
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