Madagascar Troops End Barrack Mutiny

Antananarivo, Madagascar

Madagascan troops have ended an operation on a dissident army barrack outside the capital, Antananarivo, ending a three-day mutiny.

 Several troops enclosed the barrack followed by an explosion and shots that rang the air, moments before reports emerged that the renegades had surrendered themselves to custody.

 Over 20 renegade troops took part in the Wednesday mutiny where they declared all government institutions suspended and a military council was in charge. The troops said they were taking over power from President Andry Rajoelina whom they helped assume power. 

Rajoelina, 36, former mayor of the capital and a disc jockey declared himself president after leading a military-backed uprising against President Marc Ravalomanana in march 2009 that pitted the country into several weeks of protest.

 Mr. Alain Ramaroson, head of the country’s senate defence council told AFP news agency that the renegades gave themselves up, ending the operation without bloodshed. No news has emerged from a meeting the army chief Gen Andre Ndriarijoana held with the dissidents shortly after the operation.

 Tension in the capital continues to soar ahead of the Wednesday referendum on a new constitution after the government banned all public meetings, as opposition supporters continue to engage the police in running battles.

 Rajoelina is seeking to legitimize his rule through the referendum, which the three opposition parties have called for its boycott by their supporters, terming it as a plan to arrogate more powers to himself.

 The mineral-rich island nation is facing diplomatic isolation and a freeze on development aid into the country following leadership squabbles that have beset it.

 Khartoum, Sudan

Ruling NCP Threatens not to Recognise Referendum Outcome

Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) has said it would not recognize the south’s referendum outcomes if violations on the credibility of the ongoing voter registration process continues.

 NCP senior official Mandoor Al-Mahdi told the state-run Sudanese Media Center (SMC) that the south’s Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) members present at polling stations in the capital are persuading southerners in the north not to register.

 Al-Mahdi said the South Sudan Referendum Commission (SSRC) has not taken any action to rectify the situation even after being reported to the commission severally. 

The SPLM has denied the allegations and accused the government for seeking to pressure southerners in the north to vote for unity through citizen committees by collecting numbers of those who registered.

 Atem Garang, SPLM official cited during a press conference that voters were told "You must vote for unity when you come and vote next time.”, which he said was being intimidation and against the law.

Al-Sheik Beesh an NCP figure told SMC that they will not recognize the outcome if the registration continues in this non-transparent manner.

About 5 million Southerners are expected to vote on the January 9 referendum on whether the south should secede and become independent. This will mark the final implementation of the 2005 peace agreement that ended a two-decade long civil war.

Voter registration which has been on delay over logistics and political disparities kicked off last week. A minimum of 50 percent plus one vote is required and 60 percent of those registered must cast their vote for the south to secede in a valid referendum.

Dispute over oil-rich Abyei region on voting rights of two local contending communities and possible border separation have led to proposed delay of the region’s separate referendum on whether they should be part of the north or join the south if it secedes.

President Omar Al-Bashir says he will respect the result of the polls but insisted first on two sides settling differences on border division and how to share national wealth and debt.