Monja Roindefo
Encyclopedia
Monja Roindefo Zafitsimivalo (born 1965) is a Malagasy politician who was Prime Minister of Madagascar
from March 2009 to October 2009. He was appointed on 7 February 2009 by opposition leader Andry Rajoelina
at the head of Rajoelina's rival government; later, on 17 March, Rajoelina was installed in power by the military, and Roindefo officially took over as Prime Minister.
Roindefo, the son of politician Monja Jaona
, was born in Toliara
, Atsimo-Andrefana
.
Roindefo attempted to stand as a candidate in the December 2006 presidential election
. Ballot papers for Roindefo, along with some other minor candidates, were not available at polling stations. They had not met the 29 October 2006 deadline for submitting the papers and, although they tried to submit them afterward, the government refused to accept them and said that anyone who attempted to distribute ballot papers to polling stations on the day of the election would be arrested.
Following the August 2009 power-sharing agreement signed in Maputo
, Rajoelina reappointed Roindefo as Prime Minister on 5 September 2009, despite opposition objections. Although Roindefo's new, 31-member government, which was appointed on 8 September, was officially intended to be an inclusive national unity government, the opposition denounced Rajoelina's "unilateral" decisions. The Southern African Development Community
(SADC) said that it "firmly rejects and condemns" Rajoelina's reappointment of Roindefo and the appointment of a new government without opposition approval.
On 6 October 2009, the various political factions reached an agreement on who should hold the highest offices of state. According to the agreement, Rajoelina would remain President during the transitional period, but the opposition factions (led by former presidents Marc Ravalomanana
, Didier Ratsiraka
, and Albert Zafy
) insisted that Roindefo be replaced as Prime Minister. All of the factions, including Rajoelina's, agreed on the choice of Eugene Mangalaza
as Prime Minister.
Rajoelina affirmed on 9 October that he would appoint Mangalaza to replace Roindefo. Nevertheless, Roindefo said on 10 October that he would not resign, insisting that he led a legal government and that it was "still fulfilling its mission". He stressed that the faction leaders had not signed the agreement and said that his government could not be removed by international mediators; he also said that he would stand as a presidential candidate "if the rules of the game are clearly defined". The other members of the government met later on 10 October and expressed disagreement with Roindefo's determination to remain in office; Rajoelina then appointed Mangalaza as Prime Minister late on 10 October.
Roindefo took the matter to the Council of State on 12 October 2009, requesting that it annul the decree appointing Mangalaza; he argued that the procedure was flawed and that the faction leaders needed to sign the agreement in order for it to become valid. The Council of State accordingly suspended the decree on 15 October, but lifted the suspension and refused to annul the appointment in its final ruling on 22 October 2009.
Prime Minister of Madagascar
This page contains a list of the Prime Ministers of Madagascar.-Prime Ministers of Madagascar :-Affiliations:*PSD - Social Democratic Party of Madagascar and the Comoros...
from March 2009 to October 2009. He was appointed on 7 February 2009 by opposition leader Andry Rajoelina
Andry Rajoelina
Andry Nirina Rajoelina , born May 30 1974, is the former mayor of Antananarivo who became transitional head of state of Madagascar on March 21, 2009 after the 2009 Malagasy political crisis....
at the head of Rajoelina's rival government; later, on 17 March, Rajoelina was installed in power by the military, and Roindefo officially took over as Prime Minister.
Roindefo, the son of politician Monja Jaona
Monja Jaona
Monja Jaona was a Malagasy politician and early nationalist. Jaona founded the Madagascar for the Malagasy party and agitated for the downfall of the Tsiranana regime in 1972. He was also the mayor of Tulear...
, was born in Toliara
Toliara
-References:...
, Atsimo-Andrefana
Atsimo-Andrefana
Atsimo Andrefana is a region of Madagascar. It borders Menabe in north, Amoron'i Mania and Haute Matsiatra in northeast, Ihorombe and Anosy in east and Androy in southeast. The capital is Toliara and the population was estimated to be 1,018,500 in 2004...
.
Roindefo attempted to stand as a candidate in the December 2006 presidential election
Malagasy presidential election, 2006
Presidential elections were held in Madagascar on 3 December 2006. President Marc Ravalomanana, in office since he prevailed in a dispute over election results in 2002, ran for re-election...
. Ballot papers for Roindefo, along with some other minor candidates, were not available at polling stations. They had not met the 29 October 2006 deadline for submitting the papers and, although they tried to submit them afterward, the government refused to accept them and said that anyone who attempted to distribute ballot papers to polling stations on the day of the election would be arrested.
Following the August 2009 power-sharing agreement signed in Maputo
Maputo
Maputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
, Rajoelina reappointed Roindefo as Prime Minister on 5 September 2009, despite opposition objections. Although Roindefo's new, 31-member government, which was appointed on 8 September, was officially intended to be an inclusive national unity government, the opposition denounced Rajoelina's "unilateral" decisions. The Southern African Development Community
Southern African Development Community
The Southern African Development Community is an inter-governmental organization headquartered in Gaborone, Botswana. Its goal is to further socio-economic cooperation and integration as well as political and security cooperation among 15 southern African states...
(SADC) said that it "firmly rejects and condemns" Rajoelina's reappointment of Roindefo and the appointment of a new government without opposition approval.
On 6 October 2009, the various political factions reached an agreement on who should hold the highest offices of state. According to the agreement, Rajoelina would remain President during the transitional period, but the opposition factions (led by former presidents Marc Ravalomanana
Marc Ravalomanana
Marc Ravalomanana is a Malagasy politician who was the President of Madagascar from 2002 to 2009. A member of the Merina ethnic group, Ravalomanana served as Mayor of Antananarivo before becoming President in 2002...
, Didier Ratsiraka
Didier Ratsiraka
Vice Admiral Didier Ratsiraka is a Malagasy politician who was President of Madagascar from 1975 to 1993 and from 1997 to 2002.-Second Republic:...
, and Albert Zafy
Albert Zafy
Albert Zafy is a Malagasy politician. He was the President of Madagascar from 27 March 1993 to 5 September 1996.-Early life and career:...
) insisted that Roindefo be replaced as Prime Minister. All of the factions, including Rajoelina's, agreed on the choice of Eugene Mangalaza
Eugène Mangalaza
Eugène Régis Mangalaza is a Malagasy political figure who was appointed as Prime Minister of Madagascar on 10 October 2009 under the terms of an agreement intended to resolve the 2009 political crisis....
as Prime Minister.
Rajoelina affirmed on 9 October that he would appoint Mangalaza to replace Roindefo. Nevertheless, Roindefo said on 10 October that he would not resign, insisting that he led a legal government and that it was "still fulfilling its mission". He stressed that the faction leaders had not signed the agreement and said that his government could not be removed by international mediators; he also said that he would stand as a presidential candidate "if the rules of the game are clearly defined". The other members of the government met later on 10 October and expressed disagreement with Roindefo's determination to remain in office; Rajoelina then appointed Mangalaza as Prime Minister late on 10 October.
Roindefo took the matter to the Council of State on 12 October 2009, requesting that it annul the decree appointing Mangalaza; he argued that the procedure was flawed and that the faction leaders needed to sign the agreement in order for it to become valid. The Council of State accordingly suspended the decree on 15 October, but lifted the suspension and refused to annul the appointment in its final ruling on 22 October 2009.