Andry Rajoelina visits Tanzania

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina arrived here Friday for a two-day working visit to Tanzania during which he will hold talks with his host, President Jakaya Kikwete, on the political situation in the Indian Ocean Island nation.

Kikwete, who is also chair of the Troika on Peace, Defence and Security in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), was last weekend mandated by the SADC Summit to deliver their decision to Rajoelina and the man he toppled from power in March 2009, Marc Ravalomanana.

According to diplomatic circles here, the SADC leaders wanted both Rajoelina and Ravalomanana to refrain from contesting election in Madagascar’s presidential election set for March 2013.

Ravalomanana, in exile in South Africa since his ouster, announced after his meeting with Kikwete here early this week that he was ready to return home and would not stand for election.

“I have decided to go back home to join my family and work with our people in reconstruction of our country,” Ravalomanana said.

Rajoelina has not said anything yet on whether or not he will contest.
Pana 14/12/2012

Andry Nirina Rajoelina (born 1974) is a Malagasy politician. He is the current President of the High Transitional Authority of Madagascar (head of state), having been installed in that position by the military in March 2009 at the end of a political crisis. He was the Mayor of Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, from December 2007 to February 2009; while serving as Mayor, he strongly opposed President Marc Ravalomanana, ultimately leading protests that, together with military intervention, forced Ravalomanana's resignation.

From 1994 to 2000 Andry Rajoelina worked as an organiser of live shows and events. He is also a former professional disc jockey, and owns the television and radio station VIVA.
As the head of the movement TGV - Tanora malaGasy Vonona (Determined Malagasy Youth), Andry Rajoelina decided to run for Mayor of Antananarivo, the national capital. He faced Hery Rafalimanana, presidential candidate and previous mayor of the city. He did so under the status of President of Special Delegation (PDS), appointed directly by President Marc Ravalomanana. Rajoelina was elected mayor on 12 December 2007 with 63.3% of the vote. He inherited a city heavily endebted.