What about the Scattered Islands? The Malagasy President, Andry Rajoelina, met last Friday, his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron. The press release from the presidency relating to this fourth meeting between the two heads of state did not, however, mention the slightest word concerning these islands of “discord” between the two countries.
France renewed its support and commitment to the projects and achievements of the President’s Plan Emergence Madagascar and to the organization of free, transparent and democratic elections. She will contribute to the Basket fund if we are to believe the press release from the presidency of the republic. But what about the Scattered Islands, one of the key issues in Andry Rajoelina’s electoral campaign during the 2018 presidential election.
Last week, on the eve of this meeting, the Malagasy president declared in the columns of the French magazine l’Express the forthcoming holding of a meeting of the joint Franco-Malagasy commission concerning in particular the co-management or the restitution of the islands. scattered. A first meeting of the commission took place in 2019, the second has not yet seen the light of day. Declarations of intent have been announced on several occasions by the various ministers who have succeeded one another at the head of the Malagasy diplomacy or even by the ambassadors of France in Madagascar, but it is still nothing.
The press release relating to the meeting between the two Heads of State did not mention this delicate subject or else if there was discussion, it is kept secret. One thing is nevertheless certain, the Malagasy want to know the outcome of this affair.
Less than six months from the end of his mandate, and until proven otherwise, Andry Rajoelina has visibly failed in this case and the hopes of resolving this dispute over fifty years old are dwindling.
