Madagascar elections
Madagascar goes to polls in latest battle of bitter political feud
The two men have dominated politics since the early 2000s, sometimes cooperating but mostly fighting for advantage and high office.
The department was holding a press briefing in Johannesburg on Sunday to address issues affecting Mozambique, Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
High Constitutional Court chairman Jean-Eric Rakotoarisoa ratified results given by the Indian Ocean island’s electoral board last month saying Rajoelina won 55.66% of votes versus 44.34% for Marc Ravalomanana.
In the run-off vote on 19 December, Rajoelina scored 55% of the ballot and Marc Ravalomanana won 44%, according to the final results.
The two former presidents had previously said they would accept the outcome of the vote, raising hopes of a peaceful outcome and no repeat of the political chaos seen nearly a decade ago.
The results may be contested after Marc Ravalomanana claimed fraud.
It’s looking increasingly likely the impoverished island state of Madagascar will continue living the nightmare of political instability.
The two-round election was beset by allegations of fraud from both sides and a contested result would raise the risk of continued political instability in the coup-prone Indian Ocean island nation.
With about one-third of polling stations counted, Rajoelina had 54.85% of the vote and Ravalomanana had 45.15% after the head-to-head election on Wednesday.
In the first round, Rajoelina won 39% compared with 35% for Ravalomanana. Both camps alleged they were victims of fraud and cheating.
Twice-elected Madagascar President Marc Ravalomanana has produced 500 ballot papers handed to him on Tuesday night before the polls opened on Wednesday morning.
Marc Ravalomanana, the former president who spent most of his five years of exile in South Africa, vows to have his revenge against Andry Rajoelina.
Hery Rajaonarimampianina will not take part in the second round, due on 19 December. The court rejected his request to have the election canceled.
The run-off comes after neither candidate won the 50% of votes required for a first-round victory on 7 November.
Neither won the 50% required for a first-round win, with Rajoelina on 39.19% and Ravalomanana on 35.29%, according to final results from the CENI election commission, with the run-off scheduled for 19 December.
An EU observer mission said in a report on Monday it had ‘noted candidates committed breaches’ ahead of the 7 November poll in the poor Indian Ocean island.
Rajoelina and rival Marc Ravalomanana were frontrunners in the 7 November vote in the poor Indian Ocean island that has struggled with instability since independence from France in 1960.
Marc Ravalomanana alleged Friday that journalists from the state broadcaster had been bribed to leave Ceni's offices during vote tallying.
Voters are eager to get a winner who will tackle the impoverished Indian Ocean island’s myriad problems including unemployment and corruption.