| − | Another political crisis, which began in January 2009, involved a series of anti-government demonstrations which ended with the military - which had remained neutral previously - becoming involved and the government of President Marc Ravalomanana was overthrown. He was replaced by Andry Rajoelina, a former DJ and incumbent mayor of the capital, Antananarivo. Rajoeline was an opponent of Ravalomanana and had instigated the unrest. However, the take-over is not going unimposed, with [[Norway]] imposing sanctions, the [[United States]] suspending all non-humanitarian assistance to Madagascar and even the normally toothless [[African Union]] threatening to impose sanctions, including expulsion from the Union if an "unconstitutional" transfer of power were to take place." | + | Another political crisis, which began in January 2009, involved a series of anti-government demonstrations which ended with the military - which had remained neutral previously - becoming involved and the government of President Marc Ravalomanana was overthrown. He was replaced by Andry Rajoelina, a former DJ and incumbent mayor of the capital, Antananarivo. Rajoeline was an opponent of Ravalomanana and had instigated the unrest. However, the take-over is not going unopposed, with [[Norway]] imposing sanctions, the [[United States]] suspending all non-humanitarian assistance to Madagascar and even the normally toothless [[African Union]] threatening to impose sanctions, including expulsion from the Union if an "unconstitutional" transfer of power were to take place." |