Rabat – Speaker of the House of Representatives Habib El Malki represented King Mohammed VI at the inauguration ceremony of the new Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina, today.
The King expressed his congratulations to Rajoelina and best wishes for success in fulfilling his mission, Maghreb Arab Press (MAP) reported.
“I remember the visit that I made, in November 2016, to your beautiful country, where a warm welcome was extended to me,” the King said.
The visit, added the monarch, was an opportunity to meet a “brotherly people closely linked to the history of the Royal family and the Moroccan people.”
Madagascar was the in-exile home for the Moroccan royal family in the 1950s when Sultan Mohammed V, the King’s grandfather, was forced out of Morocco by French colonial rulers.
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The sultan spent two years in Madagascar with his family, including King Mohammed VI’s father, King Hassan II.
Rajoelina took the oath of office today in Antananarivo before nine judges of the High Constitutional Court, Africa News reported.
“This is a new page in the nation’s history and it is hoped that in five years’ time, national unity will be strengthened,” said Court President Jean Eric Rakotoarisoa.
For the first time in the island’s history, a transfer of power was made Friday between Madagascar’s outgoing president Hery Rajaonarimampianina and Rajoelina.
Both presidents had a fierce struggle in the second round of the presidential election held on December 19 last year.
VIDEO: ?? The transfer of power between Madagascar’s outgoing president Hery Rajaonarimampianina and President-elect Andry Rajoelina takes place at the presidential palace in Antananarivo pic.twitter.com/rLb88PwlsM
— AFP news agency (@AFP) 18 janvier 2019
power, respect for republican values,” Rajaonarimampianina told the press outside the presidential palace.
Africa: Madagascar, The official transfer of power ceremony in Madagascar between outgoing President Hery Rajaonarimampianina & President-elect Andry Rajoelina in the capital Antananarivo on Friday. 18-01-2019 pic.twitter.com/NEKKp48g6b
— Rowan Van Dijk (@Lastkombo) 19 janvier 2019
El Malki was accompanied by the minister delegate to the foreign minister, in charge of African affairs, Mohcine Jazouli, according to a statement by the House of Representatives.
