US, European Union, and Japan to work with Madagascar on disputed re-election

By Alhaji Umar
Kanempress
7th December 2023

The United States, European Union, and Japan have promised to work cooperatively with Madagascan President Andry Rajoelina after his disputed re-election, provided he commits to electoral reforms.

The polls ended in a coup, which installed Rajoelina as president and led to violence between demonstrators and security forces.

The 49-year-old Rajoelina received fifty-eight point nine six percent of the votes cast on November sixteen and was declared the winner, giving him a third term in office.

It comes after the country’s High Constitutional Court dismissed numerous challenges lodged by the opposition claiming electoral irregularities and rigging.

Initially, there were 13 presidential candidates, but as the election progressed, 10 pulled out, resulting in a low voter turnout.

The 10 opposition candidates, who boycotted the election, had stated that they will not accept the results and will continue their protests.

Madagascar has a history of election crises, the most notable being in 2009.