{ "id": "R40448", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "R40448", "active": false, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 409585, "date": "2012-06-18", "retrieved": "2016-04-07T00:03:40.092616", "title": "Madagascar\u2019s Political Crisis", "summary": "Madagascar, an Indian Ocean island country, ranks among the world\u2019s poorest countries; is the world\u2019s fourth-largest island; and is extremely biologically diverse, with thousands of unique species of flora and fauna. It has experienced political instability since early 2009, initiated by tensions between the country\u2019s last elected president, Marc Ravalomanana, and an opposition movement led by Andry Rajoelina, then the mayor of the capital city, Antananarivo. Mass protests in early 2009 and eventual military support for the ouster of President Ravalomanana culminated in his forced resignation from office. Rajoelina then seized power and, with other leaders, formed an interim self-declared transitional government, the High Transitional Authority (HAT, after its French acronym). Ravalomanana now lives in exile in South Africa.\nPeriodic protests by Ravalomanana supporters after the takeover led to violent clashes with security forces. Negotiations between the parties led to the signing of an agreement in 2009 in Maputo, Mozambique, to establish an inclusive, transitional government, but Rajoelina subsequently appointed a cabinet seen to be primarily composed of his own supporters. Southern African leaders and Madagascar\u2019s opposition parties rejected the proposed government, and negotiations resumed. Two later agreements also failed to result in a unified transitional process.\nThe unconstitutional change of power and resulting political impasse have negatively affected economic growth and development efforts and strained Madagascar\u2019s relations with international donors. Foreign governments, including the United States, reacted to Rajoelina\u2019s seizure of power by sanctioning the government in various ways (e.g., through suspension of membership in some multilateral bodies, restrictions on aid, personal sanctions on some individuals, and removal of trade benefits). Aid restrictions have significantly decreased public spending. As a result of the coup d\u2019\u00e9tat, U.S. aid is restricted to selected humanitarian and development programs delivered through non-governmental channels. Madagascar\u2019s Millennium Challenge Account compact, worth an estimated $110 million, was terminated in May 2009. Madagascar is also subject to aid restrictions due to its poor performance in addressing the problem of trafficking in persons.\nUntil September 2011, when a Southern African Development Community (SADC)-mediated transitional roadmap was signed by most key political movements, international mediation and national efforts to agree upon a transition process had foundered. Notwithstanding continuing political disputes, implementation of the roadmap has gone relatively smoothly. In April, a political amnesty law was enacted, but it remains controversial, as it does not cover former president Ravalomanana due to his conviction for murder in absentia in August 2010; he has not been permitted to return to Madagascar. An impasse over these issues has long stymied the transition process.\nMadagascar faces a host of environmental pressures, however, and illegal logging and endangered wildlife exports have reportedly substantially increased under the HAT. Congress has expressed concern with threats to Madagascar\u2019s unique ecosystem, as well as with the country\u2019s ongoing political and development challenges. The House of Representatives passed legislation in 2009, H.Res. 839, condemning the 2009 coup and the illegal extraction of Madagascar\u2019s natural resources.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R40448", "sha1": "40390e1b24101ef20ce95f884dd204ff71703419", "filename": "files/20120618_R40448_40390e1b24101ef20ce95f884dd204ff71703419.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R40448", "sha1": "98a2117f48e2b9baab263950750af6bf00589b06", "filename": "files/20120618_R40448_98a2117f48e2b9baab263950750af6bf00589b06.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc96667/", "id": "R40448_2011Jul11", "date": "2011-07-11", "retrieved": "2012-08-07T13:52:45", "title": "Madagascar's Political Crisis", "summary": "This report discusses the current situation in Madagascar and U.S. concerns about foreign aid spending, the countries unique ecosystem, and the country's political and developmental challenges. In March 2009, under pressure from mutinous soldiers and large crowds of protestors, President Ravalomanana fled the country; the military conferred state authority to Rajoelina, who has since held power under a self-declared transitional government. Following coups elsewhere in Africa in 2008, the African Union, the United States, and the European Union, among others, warned against an unconstitutional transfer of power on the island nation and have since suspended most foreign aid.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20110711_R40448_c4242d98b2c6b9016d7234927fc3588d7aeb61d3.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20110711_R40448_c4242d98b2c6b9016d7234927fc3588d7aeb61d3.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government -- Madagascar", "name": "Politics and government -- Madagascar" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Coups d'etat", "name": "Coups d'etat" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "International affairs", "name": "International affairs" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc501864/", "id": "R40448_2010Jun30", "date": "2010-06-30", "retrieved": "2015-03-30T22:03:27", "title": "Madagascar's Political Crisis", "summary": "This report looks at political instability that has plagued the country since 2009. It address other concerns that Congress has about the country as well, specifically threats to Madagascar's unique ecosystem.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20100630_R40448_1a3f8bd2bca487d762900eccfe48f66391c0d2e3.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20100630_R40448_1a3f8bd2bca487d762900eccfe48f66391c0d2e3.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign policy", "name": "Foreign policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- Madagascar -- U.S.", "name": "Foreign relations -- Madagascar -- U.S." }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Madagascar", "name": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Madagascar" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government", "name": "Politics and government" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc505376/", "id": "R40448_2010Feb01", "date": "2010-02-01", "retrieved": "2015-05-29T05:37:21", "title": "Madagascar's Political Crisis", "summary": "This report discusses the current situation in Madagascar and U.S. concerns about foreign aid spending, the countries unique ecosystem, and the country's political and developmental challenges.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20100201_R40448_49eb9e6d923ec6a703a3a7c17e87b73652649b14.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20100201_R40448_49eb9e6d923ec6a703a3a7c17e87b73652649b14.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "International affairs", "name": "International affairs" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Military regimes", "name": "Military regimes" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Revolutions", "name": "Revolutions" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Coups d'etat", "name": "Coups d'etat" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government -- Madagascar", "name": "Politics and government -- Madagascar" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc689349/", "id": "R40448_2009Oct07", "date": "2009-10-07", "retrieved": "2015-08-03T15:06:47", "title": "Madagascar's 2009 Political Crisis", "summary": "This report looks at political instability that has plagued the Madagascar since 2009. The report address other concerns that Congress has about the country as well, specifically threats to Madagascar's unique ecosystem.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20091007_R40448_b964c63d4e53fd63c6ebfb9736639d4ba0bc626f.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20091007_R40448_b964c63d4e53fd63c6ebfb9736639d4ba0bc626f.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign policy", "name": "Foreign policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- Madagascar -- U.S.", "name": "Foreign relations -- Madagascar -- U.S." }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Madagascar", "name": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Madagascar" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government -- Madagascar", "name": "Politics and government -- Madagascar" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc700532/", "id": "R40448_2009May18", "date": "2009-05-18", "retrieved": "2015-08-27T16:20:31", "title": "Madagascar's 2009 Political Crisis", "summary": "This report discusses political tensions on the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar between President Marc Ravalomanana and Andry Rajoelina, the former mayor of the capital city, which escalated in early 2009, culminating in the President's forced removal from office.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20090518_R40448_4df533a61bdad27f913966036bbdf72350fdede8.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20090518_R40448_4df533a61bdad27f913966036bbdf72350fdede8.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "International affairs", "name": "International affairs" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Military regimes", "name": "Military regimes" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Revolutions", "name": "Revolutions" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Coups d'etat", "name": "Coups d'etat" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government -- Madagascar", "name": "Politics and government -- Madagascar" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc700516/", "id": "R40448_2009Mar25", "date": "2009-03-25", "retrieved": "2015-08-27T16:20:31", "title": "Madagascar's 2009 Political Crisis", "summary": "This report discusses political tensions on the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar between President Marc Ravalomanana and Andry Rajoelina, the former mayor of the capital city, which escalated in early 2009, culminating in the President's forced removal from office.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20090325_R40448_50b1ffa1378ab17ad1e6448256fdcdf277d41e9e.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20090325_R40448_50b1ffa1378ab17ad1e6448256fdcdf277d41e9e.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "International affairs", "name": "International affairs" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Military regimes", "name": "Military regimes" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Revolutions", "name": "Revolutions" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Coups d'etat", "name": "Coups d'etat" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government -- Madagascar", "name": "Politics and government -- Madagascar" } ] } ], "topics": [ "Constitutional Questions" ] }