Former President of Madagascar, Marc Ravalomanana, disclosed that he suffered a leg injury this past Saturday as a result of the deployment of teargas by law enforcement and military personnel to disperse a gathering of his supporters, along with those who support other candidates challenging the incumbent president.
Ravalomanana, one of the eleven candidates authorized to contest against President Andry Rajoelina in the upcoming November 9 elections, shared an image on his Facebook page displaying an injury on his left leg, from which blood was visibly flowing.
The exact cause of the injury remains uncertain at this time. Despite attempts to seek clarification, a spokesperson for Mr. Ravalomanana did not provide an immediate response or comment. Additionally, representatives from the police and government officials were not readily available to provide further information or comments on the matter.
The protesters were advocating for reforms within the administration of the election commission, as well as the establishment of a dedicated court to handle election-related disputes.
Additionally, their demands included the disqualification of President Andry Rajoelina from candidacy, citing allegations of not being a Malagasy citizen—a claim that President Rajoelina has previously refuted.
President Andry Rajoelina adhered to Madagascar’s constitutional requirement in early September when he resigned from office following his confirmation as a candidate in the upcoming presidential election. The constitution mandates that a sitting head of state seeking to participate in a presidential election must step down.