After the coup in 2009, alot of investors shied away from...

After the coup in 2009, alot of investors shied away from madagascar. Stock prices dropped considerably.

However, looking at the political developments occuring of late...we should hopefully start to see greater the stability of the region in the very near future - particularly given the involvement of the UN in the voting process and the possibility that economic sanctions will be relaxed.

IMO, should mediation be succesful (currently 8/11 political groups currently support it), we should see a significant change in the share price... *fingers crossed*.


http://af.reuters.com/article/southAfricaNews/idAFLDE7281WY20110309?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0

Mediators' Madagascar road map initialled by parties
Wed Mar 9, 2011 8:06pm GMT
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* Election date to be set by electoral commission, U.N.
* SADC says important step taken


By Alain Iloniaina

ANTANANARIVO, March 9 (Reuters) - Eight out of 11 political groups in Madagascar initialled a road map on Wednesday backed by international mediators and is designed to end a two-year political impasse on the Indian Ocean island.

The plan allows President Andry Rajoelina to remain in office until free and fair elections are held, and to appoint a prime minister proposed by the parties. Parliament and the electoral commission will expand to become more inclusive.

Madagascar plunged into crisis in 2009. Weeks of often violent protests drove former President Marc Ravalomanana into exile in South Africa. With the support of dissident soldiers, Rajoelina took over to become Africa's youngest president.

Rajoelina's power-grab was branded a coup abroad, several Western nations froze aid and the African Union eventually imposed sanctions on the president and his allies, all but isolating the world's fourth largest island diplomatically.

None of the three main opposition movements, all headed by former presidents, initialled the plan.
wever, Ravalomanana's group said it supported the process and SADC's mediation, even though it was still pushing for amendments to water down the president's powers.

"We believe we have taken a significant step today with the initialling of this road map after sometimes difficult negotiations," Leonardo Simao, lead mediator from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), said in the capital.

"This document now constitutes a common base for the political class in Madagascar to form an inclusive transitional government whose goal, first and foremost, will be to prepare the country for credible, free and transparent elections."

SADC had long called for Rajoelina to go so Ravalomanana could return to power, and the bloc had even mulled military action early on in the crisis.

Several power-sharing deals were brokered by international meditors but they all floundered because of disputes between the island's bitter rivals over the top jobs in government.

Rajoelina remained firmly ensconced, surviving assassination and coup attempts as the economy in the world's biggest vanilla producer crumbled. Then SADC shifted its stance significantly this year by recommending he be recognised as interim president.

The road map now goes to SADC for approval and will then be signed formally by the political groups. Simao suggested there could still be tweaks before the final version is presented.

The plan does not set a date for a presidential election. Instead, it says an independent electoral commission and United Nations representatives will agree a date based on evaluations of how soon a credible vote can be held.

(Writing by David Clarke)