In Madagascar, the gendarmerie’s investigation continues in the town of Ikongo in the south-east of the country, more than a week after gendarmes fired on the crowd, killing around twenty people. Angry locals had attempted the day before to enter their barracks to take justice into their own hands after an albino child disappeared shortly before.
With our correspondent in Antananarivo, Laura Verneau
The first sanctions fell. The director of public security and the head of the district were dismissed, Wednesday evening, September 7, in the Council of Ministers. These two senior officials of the public administration of Ikongo have been recognized as failing, but will that be enough after this tragedy where around twenty people have been shot down by the police ?
Last Monday, it was the Minister of Justice who reacted. He defends himself from a failure of the judicial apparatus Since no investigation had been started.
The investigation continues
The police investigation is continuing. Investigators left Ikongo today after interviewing residents. The body of the albino child was found last week, says a source close to local authorities without giving further details.
The gendarmes involved in the shooting are still withdrawn, indicate one of them, contacted by telephone. They had fled the locality for fear of reprisals shortly after the riot.
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