Attorney General Berthine Razafiarivony said on Thursday that an attempt to kill President Andry Rajoelina had been foiled.
Madagascar’s President Andrey Rajoelina (AFP-File Photo)
An attempt to kill Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has been foiled. Officials in this country located in the Indian Ocean said that several foreign and Malagasy (native to Madagascar) suspects have been arrested on a suspected plot to assassinate President Andrey Rajoelina. Attorney General Berthine Razafiarivony said on Thursday that the arrests were part of an investigation into Tuesday’s attack on state security.
Barthin Razafirivoni, while addressing the reporters, said that apart from killing the president, there was also a plan to kill other senior political figures. However, it was foiled. There has been no official confirmation about the nationality of the foreign suspects. At the same time, how big was the scope of the plan and how was it planned to be executed. No clear information has been given about this also. Earlier, on June 26, during the country’s Independence Day celebrations, the army announced that it had foiled an assassination attempt on its boss, General Richard Ravalomanana. Ravalomanana is also considered the right hand of Rajoelina.
Rajoelina became the President of Madagascar in 2019
Rajoelina took oath as the President in 2019 in this island located in the Indian Ocean. During this time he faced tough elections and constitutional court challenges from his rival. He won the last vote, defeating his main rival and predecessor Mark Ravalomanana in an election in December 2018 surrounded by allegations of fraud. The 44-year-old leader first took power from Ravalomanana in March 2009 with military backing and remained president through a transitional government until 2014.
Madagascar facing severe poverty
The former French colony has had a long history of coups and unrest since gaining independence from France in 1960. The island is internationally renowned for its unique wildlife and vanilla. But Madagascar is heavily dependent on foreign aid. Nine out of 10 people live on less than two dollars a day. The lockdown has been in force in the country since the beginning of the pandemic last year. At the same time, the southern part of the country is facing famine.
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