According to the US ambassador to Madagascar, the country “risks sliding into civil war as the security situation becomes increasingly uncertain” – and today the US Embassy “strongly encouraged” all American citizens to leave the county. Talks between the government and the opposition originally scheduled for today were postponed.
President Ravalomananana has reportedly lost control of the army which is now divided in its loyalties. Yesterday the Defence Minister was allegedly forced to resign at gunpoint. The Army Chief of Staff has also just been replaced and rebelling army units have moved tanks into strategic positions throughout the capital city to prevent the president from bringing in mercenaries to protect him. The president has called on the citizens of Tana to rise up should the army or the protesters move on the presidential palace.
A Malagasy pastor friend wrote today that though they suffer with scarcity of goods and his children cannot attend school, he expects that “God will work in a special way in our nation.We see many signs of a coming revival and we hope our land will prosper.” He thanks us for praying for his nation.
There is an African proverb that states: when elephants fight, the grass gets trampled – meaning that when leaders clash, it is the poor, weak, vulnerable who suffer. As we pray for God’s will to be done in the nation of Madagascar, let’s remember to pray for the relatives of the over 100 people who have been killed so far in the crisis as well as for those who are just struggling to survive – and especially the children.
It was and still is very sad to think of all that happened.
Yesterday my family gave me a CD about waht was happened,! Oh, it is like LIFE is not unworhty!!
May God will help all of the politician to find a way to handle this.
You have been deep in the forest, my friend – that’s right! So you have not been up on all the Tana news until recently. Yes, it is all very difficult to understand – I hope the American Embassy opens the way for Americans and lifts the travel ban soon!