ANTANANARIVO: Reports that this Indian Ocean island nation is somehow functioning with two governments following a contested presidential election are contradicted by the reality that neither government is fully operational.

“The incumbent president is holed up at the port Tamatave, his home power base, and the presumptive president is riding popular support in the capital Antananarivo, but neither is in charge,” says a diplomat connected with a UN delegation.

Neither the United Nations nor the Organization of African Unity recognizes the government of self-proclaimed president Marc Ravalomanana, who now resides in the capital with a full cabinet, including a respected general, Jules Mamizara, as his defence minister.

But neither organization cares to counter popular sentiment by backing incumbent president Didier Ratsiraka, who seeks to run the country from Madagascar’s second city, Tamatave. Ratsiraka declared Tamatave to be Madagascar’s new capital with the same presumptiveness, observers say, of Ravalomanana announcing a new, albeit unelected government.

Ravalomanana says he was the winner of the Dec 16 presidential election, while Ratsiraka says the polling was flawed, and he wants a run-off. The United Nations’ agreement with the incumbent is not based on their reading of the election results. The UN delegation’s message is that a final poll will put to rests all doubts, and earns for Ravalomanana, if he wins, the international recognition his administration requires.

Five of Madagascar’s six provincial governors back the incumbent, and their support is not likely to change until a final polling is taken.

“Without air-tight ballot box proof, Ravalomanana will remain a popular upstart, an illegitimate president, and he will be pursued by worries that he came to power by a coup,” says an aide to Amara Essy, OAU Secretary General, upon his arrival in Antananarivo on a fact-finding mission.

The nation’s army has scrupulously followed a neutral stance since the election dispute began. This has worked to Ravalomanana’s advantage as he set up his rival government within ministerial buildings. But as the city’s industry collapses, and residents face food and fuel shortages resulting from the blockade, the military may be forced to take action against the roadblocks.—Dawn/The InterPress News Service.