Madagascar has announced the lifting of a ban on opposition politicians from standing for office after series of protests over the past weeks.
The country’s president approved a new election law lifting the ban which led to a political crisis and deadly street demonstrations.
A major opposition politician and former president of the country, Marc Ravalomanana had signaled intentions to re-run for president but the ban sparked agitation from his supporters.
They had demonstrated demanding the scrapping of the law and a High Court ruled last week that the rules were unconstitutional.
President Hery Rajaonarimampianina’s office said in a statement late on Friday that “Organic laws (on elections) were promulgated today on the basis of the decisions and opinions of the High Constitutional Court.”
Ravalomanana was barred from standing for office due to a criminal conviction while he was in exile after the coup that toppled him in 2009.
Madagascar remains one of the world’s poorest countries, despite having reserves of nickel, cobalt, gold, uranium and other minerals.
Source: Africafeeds.com
