Amnesty International Report 2015/16 - Madagascar
| Publisher | Amnesty International |
| Publication Date | 24 February 2016 |
| Cite as | Amnesty International, Amnesty International Report 2015/16 - Madagascar, 24 February 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56d05b393b.html [accessed 31 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Republic of Madagascar
Head of state: Hery Rajaonarimampianina
Head of government: Jean Ravelonarivo (replaced Roger Kolo in January)
Extrajudicial executions by security forces in the south, in the context of action to combat cattle theft, continued with almost total impunity. Journalists, students, environmental activists and others were harassed and intimidated. Some were sentenced to terms of imprisonment.
BACKGROUND
Fifty-five years after independence, Madagascar remained the fifth poorest maritime country in the world with an estimated 92% of Malagasy living on less than US$2 per day. It was ranked bottom of its tier in the Human Development Index.
Political instability continued, putting national reconciliation and economic development at risk. On 26 May, opposition members in the National Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favour of removing President Rajaonarimampianina from office. The President challenged the legitimacy of the vote and rejected the outcome. On 13 June, the High Constitutional Court ruled in favour of the President.
Ongoing high levels of poverty among the majority of the population undermined access to economic and social rights including food, water and education, and fuelled social tensions. An outbreak of plague in August led to at least 10 deaths. Severe flooding between January and March left tens of thousands of people displaced and at least 19 dead.
Cattle theft remained a serious problem, leading to violent clashes between villagers and cattle rustlers, in which dozens of people died.
POLICE AND SECURITY FORCES
Widespread killings of suspected cattle rustlers continued. A military operation, Fahalemana 2015, launched in mid-August to combat cattle theft, led to a number of violent clashes between cattle rustlers and security forces, with killings by both sides. Several suspected cattle rustlers were extrajudicially executed by the military. Local people were injured and some were killed. The killings were not investigated and no-one was held to account.
On 26 August, eight soldiers and 15 suspected cattle rustlers died following a clash at Ankazoabo-Sud. Witnesses reported indiscriminate assaults by state security forces on villagers presumed to be cattle rustlers. In September, at least 18 people, including at least one police officer, three villagers and 14 suspected cattle rustlers, were killed during violent clashes in Ivahona commune. According to witness testimonies, military officers later summarily executed the suspects.
On 2 September, the extrajudicial executions of three people were reported after security forces entered Tsarazaza Maevatanana village to make documentation checks.
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION – ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISTS
Environmental activists were at risk of imprisonment for criticizing activities by extractive industries, in particular illegal logging of rosewood.
On 22 May, environmental activist Armand Marozafy was sentenced to six months' imprisonment and ordered to pay 12 million ariary (US$3,650) after his personal email reporting that two local tour operators were involved in illegal rosewood trafficking was leaked on social media. The court in Maroantsetra found him guilty of defamation under a controversial cyber criminality law.
EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE
On 31 August, the gendarmerie used excessive force to break up a demonstration by students at Ankatso University in the capital, Antananarivo. Student leader Jean-Pierre Randrianamboarina was beaten and suffered multiple injuries. He was given a six-month suspended sentence in September after being convicted on charges including incitement to disturb public order and to overthrow the government.
CHILDREN'S RIGHTS
In March, UNICEF reported that 47% of children under five suffered chronic malnutrition, and that their living conditions were adversely affected by factors including homelessness, poor nutrition and lack of access to basic health care.
PRISON CONDITIONS
Prisons were overcrowded with more than half of all detainees in pre-trial detention. Food rations allocated to prisoners were cut by more than half in 2015, according to the ICRC, posing serious threats to health.
