After weeks of political violence, voters on the island nation of Madagascar went to the polls on Thursday to elect a president, even though 10 of the 13 candidates called for a boycott, accusing the man they are vying to replace of unfairly tilting the process in his favor.
Most of the 30 million residents of this nation off the southeastern coast of Africa live in poverty.
A series of weather-related catastrophes in recent years have damaged the country’s agricultural production, its economic mainstay, increasing the humanitarian crisis.
Political instability has been a defining feature of Madagascar’s elections over the years, and the 2018 race saw efforts by Russia to influence the outcome through the paramilitary organization the Wagner Group.
It is unclear whether Russia has any involvement in this year’s election, or how much.
Persons:
“, ”, Andoniaina Ratsimamanga
Organizations:
Wagner
Locations:
Madagascar, Africa, Russia