The UN and foreign chancelleries in Madagascar will not finance the Malagasy presidential election at the end of the year, according to a United Nations report.
A confidential United Nations report revealed by Africa Intelligence indicates that the local UN agency in Madagascar has no interest in committing financially to the Malagasy presidential election, which will take place this year.
The first round of the Malagasy presidential election will take place on November 9, and a second round is scheduled for December 20. Politically speaking, Andry Rajoelina is applying for a second term. He will have, in front of him, a front made up of former heads of state who are determined to make him stumble.
But what does the UN reproach Madagascar for? In his confidential assessment report, it is stated that the United Nations has no interest, for its reputation, in setting up funds to finance the presidential election.
Funded workshops rather than election
It all started with an investigation launched by Rosemary DiCarlo, the Under-Secretary General at the United Nations Department of Political Affairs and Peacebuilding (UNDPPA), two years ago. Africa Intelligence specifies that the United Nations experts, within the NAM (Needs assessment mission), delivered their conclusions last month.
The latter would have recommended to the local UN mission not to err in the direct and technical financing of the presidential election "at the risk of endangering the reputation and credibility of the organization". Conclusions confirmed by experts from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
Problem: the report circulated in the embassies and consulates of Madagascar. This is enough to provoke a certain mistrust on the part of the international community, which now thinks that the Malagasy presidential election will be a fiasco.
Still, the UN representatives in Madagascar would have preferred direct funding for the presidential election. They believe that local authorities must be supported. On the side of Washington, a second option was proposed: to finance “strategic workshops on the elections”. A way to provide training and advice without releasing funds whose use was uncertain.