The President of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has appointed Mohamed Idris Farah as Special Envoy to the Republic of Madagascar, the pan‑African organisation announced in a statement.
“Ambassador Farah brings to this new role, a wealth of cognitive expertise, experience and top performing Pan- African Diplomat with full knowledge of African Union approaches in promoting conflict prevention and resolution, preventive diplomacy, transformative mediation and dialogue,” the statement said on Monday.
This appointment forms part of the roadmap established by the AU Peace and Security Council following its meetings on 14 and 15 October, which reviewed the current political situation in Madagascar.
According to the AU, Farah’s mandate includes “intensifying engagement with government authorities, youth leaders, civil society, regional actors and organisations, as well as all relevant stakeholders, with a view to fostering inclusive dialogue, achieving consensus and promoting mutual understanding toward a peaceful resolution of the crisis and the rapid restoration of constitutional order in this island nation.”
The statement recalled that protests erupted in Madagascar in late September, initially triggered by widespread electricity and water shortages, some of which escalated into violence and calls for the president’s resignation.
