Andry Rajoelina’s inauguration ceremony began at 10am. The re-elected President took the oath in front of a sold-out Barea stadium. President Andry Rajoelina begins a new term at the head of Madagascar, fending off the opposition boycott and the international community’s concerns about the island’s future.
In front of a crowd of 50,000, and made up of six African presidents, including among them the President of the Republic, Pradeep Roopun. Also present: Azali Assoumani, President of the Republic of Comoros, who also chairs the African Union (AU); Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of the Republic of Mozambique; Joao Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola and SADC; Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe; Umaro Sissoco Embalo, President of Guinea-Bissau ; Vice President of the Seychelles, Ahmed Afif; Minister of the Armed Forces of Senegal, Youm El Hadji Omar; Prime Minister of Rwanda, Edouard Ngirente; Prime Minister of Tanzania, Kassim Majaliwa; Vice Chairman of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Hu Chunhua.
Vêlayoudom Marimoutou, Secretary General of the Indian Ocean Commission, which includes La Réunion, will also be present at Mahamasina today, as will Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, and Dev Haman, Deputy Secretary General of COMESA.
The ups and downs of the presidential election process have reached their final denouement. Andry Rajoelina, the re-elected President of the Republic, was sworn in during the inauguration ceremony at Mahamasina’s Stade Barea.
The swearing-in ceremony marked the official start of Andry Rajoelina’s second five-year term. As required by the Constitution, this was a “solemn hearing of the High Constitutional Court, before the nation, and in the presence of the government, the National Assembly, the Senate and the Supreme Court”. Pronounced in Malagasy, the oath consists of swearing before God, the country and the people that he will perform his duties as President of the Republic correctly and with dignity.
It also means swearing that he will use the powers entrusted to him wisely. That he will preserve and strengthen national unity and human rights. That he will respect the Constitution and the laws as if they were the apple of his eye.
