By John Ikani
Madagascar’s sitting President, Andry Rajoelina has clinched a third term victory amid controversy surrounding a disputed election that saw the opposition and its supporters opting out.
Rajoelina secured 59% of the votes, defeating his closest competitors, ousted ex-President Marc Ravalomanana, and Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko.
With a record-low voter turnout of 46%, the election witnessed a boycott by 10 presidential contenders, citing concerns about the election’s credibility and questioning Rajoelina’s bid for a third term due to his dual French nationality.
Despite appeals to annul Rajoelina’s candidacy being dismissed by the constitutional court, the withdrawn candidates’ names remained on the ballot. Randrianasoloniaiko garnered 14% of the vote, and Ravalomanana secured 12%.
The confirmation of results lies in the hands of the constitutional court, which has nine days to ratify the Electoral body’s announcement on Saturday.
The opposition, collectively boycotting the election, has already declared its refusal to recognize the November 16 poll’s outcome.
In the lead-up to the election, Antananarivo witnessed six weeks of protests and clashes, prompting a curfew imposition on the eve of the poll.
Rajoelina, a 49-year-old entrepreneur and former DJ, previously secured the presidency in a 2018 runoff against Ravalomanana after neither candidate garnered the required 50% in the initial round. Notably, Rajoelina had ousted Ravalomanana in a 2009 coup backed by the military.
Now facing the challenge of job creation and economic improvement in a country where 75% live below the poverty line, according to the World Bank, Rajoelina also shoulders the responsibility of restoring political stability amid years of turbulence in Madagascar.
