The armed forces have issued stern warnings in the tense atmosphere following Madagascar’s legislative elections on May 29th as the nation anxiously awaits the results. Accusations of fraud from both ruling and opposition candidates have fueled suspicions and heightened tensions, particularly on social media.
A striking example of the escalating discord occurred in a southern commune, where the local electoral commission office was set ablaze on Friday, May 31. In response, the military issued a warning against further election-related disturbances on Saturday, June 1.
The leaders of Emmo Nat, the joint military, police, and gendarmerie unit, have declared that no “disturbance” or “manipulation” of the results will be tolerated. This statement serves as a stark warning amid the increasingly volatile post-election environment. In Tsihombe, a town in the deep south of the country, the office housing the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) was torched on Friday afternoon.
According to a local political source, the arson was allegedly carried out by residents angered by suspected fraud during the May 29 voting. Similarly, in Tsiroanomandidy, located in the center of the island, the offices of the Voting Materials Census Section (SRMV), responsible for entering ballot results into computers, were set on fire early Saturday morning at around 3:30 AM.
Despite these incidents, a source within the gendarmerie stated that there is no evidence yet to suggest intentional acts of arson. The armed forces have also urged the public to refrain from spreading false information online, as social media has become a battleground for candidates. Some are already claiming victory, while others contest their losses based on a small, unrepresentative sample of polling station results.
The official results are not expected to be announced by the High Constitutional Court until June 24. As the nation holds its breath, the military’s warnings underscore the fragile state of peace and the critical need for stability in the post-election period.