Madagascar: impatience rises on the question of the restitution of the Scattered Islands

Text by: RFI Follow

Six days before the celebration of the 60th anniversary of Malagasy independence, where are the results promised by the Head of State concerning the restitution of the Scattered Islands? This is the question posed by the parties and associations mobilized on this issue. Yesterday Friday, they held a rally in front of the French embassy in Antananarivo, to demand the restitution of these islands and to arrest the authorities of the two countries. A string of uninhabited islets that surrounds Madagascar, the Scattered Islands are under French sovereignty but have been claimed by the Big Island since the early 1970s.

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with our correspondent in Madagascar,Laetitia Bezain

"  Malagasy islands: stop colonialism  ", "  French, during the next elections, do not be an accomplice of a demagogue and neo-colonialist president  " ... In front of these banners hanging in front of the French embassy, ​​a few dozen protesters gathered.

For Toavina, one of the participants, the promise of the Head of State, Andry Rajoelina, to find a solution for the restitution of these islands before June 26, is only a distant hope. “  The Malagasy islands are ours Malagasy. There is no discussion on this point! It has been more than forty years since the UN resolution asking France for the restitution of the scattered islands in Madagascar has been out and I am so disappointed that we are unable to achieve something . "

Only a negotiating session between France and Madagascar took place last November. It had acted in all and for all "  of a dispute on the question of sovereignty . "

Faced with stalled discussions, the demonstrators arrested the Madagascan president, like Elia Rabevahiny, secretary general of the nationalist party "Otrikafo". "  You talked about restitution and you said" let's join forces, help me! " Was it just nice words? Faced with acts of defiance from France , we see no action on the part of the authorities. What prevents the Malagasy State from issuing a decree specifying that these islands, which are in the exclusive economic zone of Madagascar, belong to us? The authorities can enact a law that says that these five islets are integrated in the  regions closest to our country . "

Proposals that these organizations sent to Andry Rajoelina in an open letter.

►Read also: Scattered Islands: look back on a year of blockage between France and Madagascar

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