Madagascar's National Consultation Process Faces Delays

Madagascar's national consultation process, aimed at drafting a new constitution, has not yet begun as initially planned. The process, which was supposed to start according to a schedule published in August by the Council of Christian Churches of Madagascar (FFKM), has encountered delays. The FFKM, responsible for overseeing the process, has announced that facilitators are being prepared for deployment to guide the consultations, but no specific start date has been confirmed.

The delay comes despite the significance of the consultation process, which is intended to inform one or more constitutional drafts. These drafts are expected to be presented to the Malagasy people for approval via referendum by July 2027 at the latest. The FFKM had previously indicated that the consultation process would involve multiple phases, including regional consultations and thematic workshops, to ensure broad participation and input from the population.

The FFKM has emphasized the importance of these consultations in shaping a constitution that reflects the aspirations and needs of the Malagasy people. The process is designed to be inclusive, involving various stakeholders, including civil society organizations, political parties, and community leaders. The delay in starting the consultations has raised concerns about the timeline for completing the constitutional drafting process and holding the referendum by the deadline.

The FFKM has stated that the delay is due to logistical challenges and the need to ensure that the consultations are well-organized and inclusive. The organization is working to address these issues and has assured the public that the process will commence as soon as possible. The FFKM has also called for patience and understanding from the Malagasy people, urging them to remain engaged and participate actively once the consultations begin.