Foreigners suspected of plotting the assassination of the country’s president detained in Madagascar

Law enforcement agencies of Madagascar prevented the assassination of the country’s President Andri Radzuelina, transfers Reuters citing the republic’s prosecutor’s office. As part of the investigation, several “foreigners and residents of Madagascar” were detained.

Two defendants have French roots – Franco-Malagasy Paul Rafanoharana and Frenchman Philip Francois. Rafanoharana was detained at his home on Tuesday evening, and the operation was carried out by about ten armed forces. And François was detained in the departure hall of the airport when he was about to fly to France.

“According to the information we have, these people have developed a plan to kill and neutralize a number of people, including the head of state,” the Attorney General of Madagascar said in a statement.

According to media reports, both detainees are graduates of the French Special Military School Saint-Cyr. François headed an investment fund, Rafanoharana was an advisor to Archbishop Antananarivo.

In 2011, an attempt was already made on Radzuelina. Then an explosive device went off under the car of the head of the republic during the movement of his motorcade. The car was well protected and the head of state was not injured, transfers RBC.

Andri Radzuelina became president of the former French colony of Madagascar in January 2019 after a bitter election campaign. Moreover, his competitor tried to challenge the election results in the Constitutional Court.

The elections themselves were held with the use of dirty political technologies exported from Russia. As noted by the media, political strategists closely associated with the Kremlin came to the country under the guise of tourists. And at least six presidential candidates received money from Russia, it was said in investigation BBC.

Andri Radzuelina declined to answer the question of whether the Russians support him. Another electoral contestant, Pastor Andre Maillol, admitted that his election campaign was partly financed by the Russians. They invited the spiritual father not only to take cash, but also to support other candidates if they take the lead.

According to the BBC, Maxim Shugaley took part in the presidential elections in Madagascar as a political strategist. And the work of political strategists from the Russian Federation was controlled by Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, known as “Putin’s chef.”

We add that Andri Radzuelina first came to power in Madagascar in 2009. Then he was an opposition leader who opposed President Mark Ravalumanana. Razuelina enlisted the support of the military, and Ravalumanana was forced to flee the country. Andri Radzuelina headed the Provisional Government, but it did not receive international support, and the African Union imposed sanctions on the Prime Minister and other high-ranking officials.

In 2010, there was an attempted coup d’état organized by Colonel Charles Andrianasuavina, but Radzuelina managed to hold on to power. In 2013, elections were held in the country, to which Radzuelina was not allowed, like other former heads of state.