Madagascar's ex- president Ravalomanana to return to home

South Africa’s deputy foreign affairs chief Marius Fransman has denied reports that Madgascar coup leader Andry Rajoelina is seeking the arrest of former president Marc Ravalomanana who’s been living in exile in Johannesburg since being ousted in 2009.

Wikimedia Commons/U.S. Department of State

After leading a marathon mediation session in Madagascar at the end of last week, South Africa’s deputy Minister of international relations Marius Fransman briefed the media on Wednesday on the successful bid by the Peace and Security Council of the 14-nation Southern African Development Community which ended with the major parties signing a roadmap for peace.

The agreement includes allowing ousted president Marc Ravalomanana to return to contest elections on the island state.

Reports surfaced this week that coup leader Andry Rajoelina has asked South Africa to arrest Ravalomanana, who’s been living in exile here, so he could return to serve the life sentence imposed on him in absentia for the presidential guard’s involvement in the shooting of demonstrators before his overthrow.

Fransman explained that Rajoelina was looking for talks not action from the South African authorities.

Ravalomana said last weekend that he wants to return to Madagascar as soon as possible.

When he tried to go home earlier this year, the airline would not allow him to board in Johannesburg because it had been warned that it would not be allowed to land in Madagascar.