The FFKM (Council of Christian Churches in Madagascar) is keeping everyone waiting regarding the national consultation, as the second week of August approaches. Meanwhile, Colonel Michaël Randrianirina, Head of State, is conducting a series of consultations aimed at fostering political dialogue.
Time is running out. The appointment was clearly indicated in the calendar published by the FFKM on June 21. August was supposed to mark the kickoff of the national consultation, from the fokontany level to the central level. However, to date, neither the topics to be debated, the organizational modalities, nor the precise deadlines are known.
During a meeting between the Executive and the FFKM in early June at the Ambohitsorohitra State Palace, the preparation and conduct of the national consultation were entrusted to the religious institution. It was also stated that, from then on, it would be up to the Church to communicate on the progress of the process. Since June 21, the FFKM seems to have observed radio silence on the subject.
As days pass, this lack of communication raises questions about the possibility of meeting the twenty-four-month deadline provided in the Refoundation schedule. In the document submitted to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on February 28, the State aims to conclude the transition with a referendum or a constitutional election, followed by the presidential election before the end of 2027. The national consultation, however, is a prerequisite for all other processes inherent to the Refoundation.
In reality, only peripheral initiatives have been visible so far. Pre-consultations and sectoral meetings, notably the recent youth consultation, have taken place. However, they struggle to dispel the uncertainties surrounding the national consultation itself. This process is supposed to structure and formalize the major political and institutional orientations of the Refoundation, which will be submitted to the verdict of the ballot box.
Meanwhile, debates are shifting elsewhere. On social media, major issues that should be decided within the calm and structured framework of the national consultation are already fueling heated controversy. The choice between a federal state and a unitary state is the most striking example. In the absence of an official framework, these discussions are spiraling out of control, escaping any methodological guidance and risking the exacerbation of divisions.
In parallel, Colonel Michaël Randrianirina is holding meetings with political figures. According to his statements at the closing of the youth consultation last Saturday, these talks are part of the perspective of organizing a political dialogue intended to establish a peaceful climate ahead of the end-of-transition electoral deadlines.
This dynamic, distinct from the national consultation entrusted to the FFKM, raises questions about a possible overlap or even competition between the two processes. Behind the stated goal of appeasement, the stakes of the political dialogue are delicate. It could become the venue for negotiating sensitive issues, such as the Head of State’s candidacy for the next presidential election, the case of major political figures like former President Andry Rajoelina, and the fate of political figures in detention.
Behind the scenes, some even mention the possibility of a consensus government as an outcome of these discussions. The future of the National Assembly could also be at stake, as its dissolution was among the main recommendations from the youth consultation.
If this option were to be retained within the framework of the political dialogue, it could profoundly reconfigure the institutional landscape before the elections. The occupant of Iavoloha also indicated that his initiative to engage in political dialogue was in response to international recommendations. The international community, particularly the SADC and the United Nations, is closely monitoring the execution of the Refoundation schedule.
The recent joint mission of these two bodies testifies to this international vigilance. However, every delay accumulated further weakens the sustainability of this calendar. Moussa Saleh Batraki, Secretary General of the OACPS (Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States), who visited Madagascar this week, expressed keen interest in the Refoundation process during his various meetings.
Following his meeting with Colonel Randrianirina on August 5, the OACPS Secretary General mentioned a delay in the established calendar. With the SADC summit scheduled for August 17 in South Africa, the Malagasy file could be on the agenda, along with the question of compliance with the commitments made by the Refoundation authorities.
Captured & Published at: 2026-08-08 06:08:47 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/08/refondation-silence-radio-sur-la.html