Andry Rajoelina asks for a year to solve problems or will resign

Madagascar President Andri Raoelina has asked for a year to determine the country’s challenges, promising that if they continue, he will resign.

He said this during a city -style meeting in his palace with different groups of state supporters. Many present had the opportunity to ask the president’s questions or just share their views – which he answered.

“I don’t want flattery. I want to hear the truth. The people who have kept telling me that everything is right that are responsible for our present situation,” he said.

The movement behind the protest, known as the Mad Gen., calls on the president to resign – and rejected an invitation to attend the negotiations.

They claim that they cannot engage a government that suppresses them because they require fundamental human rights. The group called for new protests on Thursday.

“We refuse the president’s invitation for conversations. We will not participate in a dialogue with a regime that suppresses, attacks and humiliates their youth on the streets,” they wrote on their Facebook page.

Rajolin holds these meetings as part of his promise to “listen more”, emphasizing that the challenges facing the Indian Ocean nation can only be resolved through honest conversations, not protests.

The president assured those in the dialogue that current electricity projects would deal with repeated interruptions by adding 265 megawatts to the national network.

“I swear that if electricity cuts continue in the capital within a year, it will resign,” he said.

The protests began on September 25, caused by anger by the constant power and shortage of water, and escalated in wider dissatisfaction with corruption, high unemployment and the crisis of life.

Last week, Rajiona fired her entire government and appointed an army prime minister -chairman on Monday. The protest movement rejected the appointment and promised to continue its fight.

Rajolin came to power in 2009 after leaving mass protests that sparked military intervention and removed then President Mark Ravalomanan.

Although the movement, led by youth, continues to require his resignation, it seems that street protests have weakened.

Life in most parts of the capital Antananarivo continues as normal, with the exception of several neighborhoods with a heavy police presence, where some roads have been blocked or closely observed.

At least 22 people were killed in clashes with the security forces and the evaluations were more injured, according to the United Nations organization. Authorities challenge these figures.