Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
OneoftheinsistencesofSADCwasthe'unconditionalreturn'ofallpoliticalexiles,apoint
that Rajoelina tempered by adding that exiles would not be immune from judicial pursuits.
Despite Ratsiraka's refusal to sign the roadmap, the progress was held as a milestone. In
December 2011, the EU announced it would conditionally support the transition process in
Madagascar and work towards restarting its development cooperation.
Tourists also started to come back in 2011; after deserting the country since the events of
2009, visitor numbers were back to mid-noughties levels - welcome morale and economic
boosts.
At the time of writing, HAT was planning to run elections in 2012. A number of con-
tentious issues remained, none trickier than the return of Rajoelina's nemesis, disgraced
former president Marc Ravalomanana.
Prospects
Madagascar has suffered immensely from the political crisis: it affected its international
standing and cut off vital donor funding for public investments, notably infrastructure. For-
eign investment has also been affected, with investors unsure about whether a contract
signed with one administration would be honoured by the next.
There is much activity in the extractive industry, where iron ore, oil and gas exploration
concessions have showed promising results. The Malagasy are anxious to see the proceeds
of their mineral wealth trickle through, but there is concern too about the social and envir-
onmental impacts of such projects.
»Population: 19.6 million
»77% live below the national poverty line
»Life expectancy: 60
»Literacy: 71%
»Average number of children per woman: 4.7
More than anything else, though, the Malagasy want to move on. In a country where
half the population is under the age of 18, the desire for change is palpable. As one Mala-
gasy put it, 'we have all the ingredients to make a great dish but we've never found a good
cook'. So bring on the elections.
Dos & Don'ts
»Respect local
fady
(taboos), which are cultural and social dictates that relate to food, be-
haviour and certain times of the week or year. Guides will explain.
»Don't point; bend your finger or indicate with your palm.
»Bring rice or a bottle of rum if you're invited to a Malagasy home.
