Back Ravalomanana, Wade Urges OAU States

SENEGALESE president Abdoulaye Wade on his last day in Uganda, yesterday urged OAU member states to recognise Marc Ravalomanana as the de-facto president of Madagascar.At a joint press conference with President Yoweri Museveni at State House Nakasero, Wade said Ravalomanana should be invited to attend next week’s heads of state summit in Durban, South Africa, during which the OAU will be replaced by the African Union. Wade has been instrumental in negotiations between the warring parties in Madagascar. France, the United States and other countries have also recognised Ravalomanana as the presidentHe appealed to former president Didier Rastiraka to concede defeat, now that Ravalomanana controls the entire country. Rastiraka fled with his family to the Seychelles yesterday snubbing an earlier offer for asylum in France.“There have been changes and the OAU is changing its position. We should consider Ravalomanana as president. What we have to do now is to help him,” Wade said. He said Ravalomanana should now push ahead with the creation of a government of national unity, to include some of Rastiraka’s supporters. Wade and Museveni defended the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) initiative, which they said would spur growth in African countries. Wade said NEPAD focus is on good governance, rational development and strengthening of the private sector.Infrastructure development, education and training, health, agriculture for food security and export, environment conservation, energy development and access to developed markets are the eight areas he cited as most important issues for African development.Museveni thanked Wade whom he described as, a “pan africanist, “ for coming to Uganda, saying he would pay a return visit. He called for collective continental planning in the eight areas identified. He said Africa benefited from the just concluded G8 summit held in Canada. Ends