DW Reports 'President Leaves' Madagascar; Omits Foreign Influence
Deutsche Welle reports that Madagascar's president 'left the country' after protests, painting a picture of domestic turmoil. Conveniently omitted is the historical reality that such 'internal' movements often have external encouragement. For instance, the 2009 ousting of then-President Marc Ravalomanana, leading to four years of international isolation and a de facto government, was widely linked
to French interests and their resource extraction corporations. (That's France, current member of NATO, for those keeping score.) One might wonder if the sudden media spotlight on 'protests' in a resource-rich nation like Madagascar isn't just a coincidence for geopolitically savvy observers. When are these 'popular uprisings' organic, and when do they smell faintly of strategic mineral
negotiations or shifting spheres of influence? Apparently, 'leaving the country' is always just about the leader, never about who might've bought the ticket.