Rome – “The Church is the only refuge, the only safe haven where people come. When they need medical care, when they cannot afford to study or have nothing to eat, when there is famine, it is always the Church that cares for them. It has never been linked to any government or president. It has always shown respect, but also voiced criticism of the alternation of various governments,” said Bishop Rosario Vella, SDB of Moramanga in an interview with Fides, in which he also expressed great concern about the situation in the country and, at the same time, confidence that everything will turn out for the better.
“Especially in recent months, two drops of water have broken the camel’s back in a situation that people can no longer tolerate,” the Salesian bishop emphasized. “Young pacifists of Generation Z have taken to the streets to protest the ongoing water and power outages in the capital, Antananarivo, as well as in many other cities. There were days when electricity only lasted two or three hours, and only in certain neighborhoods, forcing people to search for water sources with garbage cans. The protests transformed into demonstrations against inadequate basic services, collapsing infrastructure, rampant corruption in the highest levels of government, and the desire for democracy.”
“In response, the government initially forced all ministers to resign to demonstrate that it acknowledged its mistakes, but still reacted forcefully, ordering the police, military, and gendarmes to use bombs, tear gas, and batons against the people.
Unfortunately, there were deaths and an undetermined number of injuries in the capital and other major cities. The young people, in turn, asked to be allowed to speak with the gendarmes and to gather in May 13th Square, the symbol of the island’s independence, to demonstrate peacefully and demand explanations for the violent attacks. These demands gave cause for concern,” Bishop Vella explains. “In particular, Colonel Michaël Randrianirina of the historic Cap Sat camp, where two revolutions had originated in recent decades, declared that he openly sided with the people and would no longer obey orders to attack, as these were illegitimate. He acknowledged the people’s reasons and added that they would accompany the people themselves to the square, calling on all gendarmes and soldiers to join them and do the same. This colonel’s intervention was crucial and led to reconciliation between the people and the army.”
“Meanwhile,” the prelate continued, “all the ministers, including President Andry Rajoelina, who had addressed the nation on television, had already left the island, as had all the wealthy.
Parliament and the Constitutional Court passed a vote of no confidence in the President and appointed Colonel Michaël Randrianirina as interim president. Randrianirina appeared in civilian clothes at his swearing-in ceremony, almost as if to signal peace. In his address to the people gathered in the square, he promised that elections would be held in 18 to 24 months and that in the meantime, everyone must work together to move the country forward in the best possible way. The situation seems to have calmed down again, but anything is still possible.”
“We, the Church of Madagascar, have advocated for dialogue from the very beginning, as we are aware that violence breeds more violence,” the bishop affirms. “One could say there was no active intervention, but the bishops have consistently supported the people. The country’s four main churches were present when Colonel Michaël took office, even though he was a practicing Protestant,” the bishop states.
“Currently, the Church is considered a stable structure when it comes to maintaining normal life,” he continues. “For example, the clinics and schools in my diocese of Moramanga have continued to operate, and we also have a university. We did not participate in demonstrations because there weren’t any, but we did organize meetings with young people to discuss current events with them and help them become aware and raise awareness. The Church is a mother who welcomes and educates her children.”
“Madagascar is an island that possesses great wealth in terms of its mineral resources and its fauna and flora. The people are simple, hardworking, and hospitable,” Bishop Vella emphasizes. “From a landscape perspective, it is a paradise, but we also know that, according to the World Bank, it is unfortunately one of the six poorest countries.” “In 2022, 75% of the population, comprising 32 million people, lived below the poverty line.”
“Since 1960, the year of independence,” he continues, “there has been a succession of presidents and governments who have made many promises, but the economy and people’s way of life have not changed at all. In many respects, the situation has even worsened. The primary reason for the widespread poverty suffered by the population is corruption, which has unfortunately become a way of doing business, governing, and living.”
“The situation is exacerbated by those in power who, to this day, have only considered their own personal interests and never the common good, without making significant investments or improving people’s lives,” he explains. “There has never been an agrarian reform. The same applies to livestock farming and the entire infrastructure. The roads are all in poor condition, and the buildings are constantly falling into disrepair.”
“It’s impossible to pinpoint the exact cause of this precarious situation,” the bishop stated, “but many countries around the world are drawn to Madagascar for their own self-interest: France, America, Russia, China, but also Thailand, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. Some are after vanilla, others gold or other valuable raw materials – everyone has their own interests.” Bishop Vella concluded by emphasizing the Church’s concerns about the near future: “There are fears that this could be exploited for revenge, personal retaliation, and slander.”
In recent days, a new transitional government has been formed in Madagascar. This government was announced by Colonel Michaël Randrianirina, the country’s interim president, following the removal of former Malagasy President Andry Rajoelina after street protests at the end of September. The executive, composed of 29 ministers aims to “lead the country out of the crisis” and unites well-known figures in Malagasy politics with new faces from the worlds of science and business.
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