Ousted Madagascan ex-president, Marc Ravalomanana
AFP
Madagascar's ousted leader, Marc Ravalomanana flew home Saturday to end his three-year exile despite threats to arrest him, amid growing pressure on the island's government to avoid new unrest, reports AFP.
Ravalomanana and his wife took off on a South African Airways flight that was expected to land shortly after 2:00 pm in Antananarivo, where the capital's head of security has vowed to arrest him upon arrival.
But the self-made millionaire, who was ousted with the army's blessing by disc jockey-turned-politician Andry Rajoelina, said he was confident of a safe return home.
"I have just discussed with the prime minister. He said everything was OK," Ravalomanana told reporters before departing from the Johannesburg airport.
Prime Minister Omer Beriziky took office in November, heading a government that was agreed by consensus among Madagascar's main political parties, under a regionally brokered roadmap to steer the nation toward elections this year.
That deal allows the return of political exiles, and fellow fallen leader, Didier Ratsiraka recently returned from exile in France without incident.
The agreement explicitly called for Ravalomanana to be allowed to return and for the transitional parliament to ratify an amnesty for "all political events" between 2002 and 2009 except for war crimes, genocide or major human rights violations.
But an "explanatory note" attached to the deal cast doubt on whether existing convictions would in fact be cleared.
Security forces said Ravalomanana would be arrested on arrival, after he was sentenced to life in prison and hard labour for the death of 30 opposition protesters killed by his presidential guard in February 2009.
"The arrest warrant will be executed. It's a court decision, we cannot allow it not to be executed," said General Richard Ravalomanana, head of security for the province that includes the capital.
So far, other top leaders have remained silent on his return.
Madagascar has been isolated by the international community since Ravalomanana's ouster, with the African Union and the Southern African Development Community suspending its membership until a return to constitutional order.
Former colonial power, France, the United States, and regional powerhouse South Africa all urged the transitional government to honour the roadmap.
South Africa urged both Rajoelina and Ravalomanana to "exercise political maturity"
"We implore upon the leadership to put the interests of the Malagasy nation above party political interests and spare no effort in ensuring that the roadmap is fully implemented in both letter and spirit," Deputy Foreign Minister, Marius Fransman said.
France said the parties should put their attention to organising elections expected this year, which Ravalomanana plans to contest.
"The success of these elections will be decisive for the country," said foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero.
The United States called on "all parties to avoid actions that might lead to violence".
"Misuse of the security services for political purposes is unacceptable. The security services need to avoid actions that would be seen as interference with, or intimidation of, political and civil society actors," the US embassy said in a statement.
Many in Madagascar are eager to see an end to the crisis, which has taken a toll on the island's economy. Income per capita has fallen from $998 in 2008 to $943 in 2011, according to the International Monetary Fund.