Vice Admiral Didier Ratsiraka

Roland Ratsiraka ex-Mayor of the port city of Toamasina and nephew of former President Didier Ratsiraka could shape attitudes among the east coast lowland population towards a new President who like Ravalomanana is a highland Merina with his political base in the capital...

Back in 2002 Ravalomanana then also Mayor of 'Tana' mobilised a peaceful campaign to depose veteran President Didier Ratsiraka the 'Red Admiral'...

Roland Ratsiraka nephew of ex-President Didier Ratsiraka was a popular Mayor of the port city of Toamasina his family's base...

Roland Ratsiraka former Mayor of Toamasina and nephew of exiled President Didier Ratsiraka had been silenced by questionable corruption charges but is toying with politics again...

Norsk Hydro already has investments; Norway was the first country to recognise Ravalomanana as President in 2002 when the 'Red Admiral' President Didier Ratsiraka disputed the election result...

The defeated 'Red Admiral' Didier Ratsiraka defied the election result for several months then gave up and fled the country in July 2002 (AC Vol 43 Nos 7 & 10)...

Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin has long experience in Africa and in Madagascar (where on 3 July he visited the then aspiring President Marc Ravalomanana ignoring his rival France's old friend Didier Ratsiraka) has already shown his willingness to intervene actively in domestic political tangles...

That seems to be the aim of the veteran Red Admiral Didier Ratsiraka who clings to the presidency despite a ruling by the High Constitutional Court on 29 April that his rival Marc Ravalomanana had won 51 per cent of the vote on 16 December to Ratsiraka's 36 per cent (AC Vol 43 Nos 2 & 7)...

Yet Wade claimed most of the credit and gave the best sound-bites offering Senegal's follow-up services as mediator between the island's would-be presidents Didier Ratsiraka and Marc Ravalomanana...

Tension is rising as the standoff between the country's parallel presidents continues veering between good-natured though fervent protest (especially by Marc Ravalomanana's supporters) and violent attacks on the opposition (particularly by President Didier Ratsiraka's supporters)...