Madagascar – 16 Jan 2015

Madagascar names new PM amid public grumbles over blackouts
Madagascar’s president named air force commander and businessman Jean Ravelonarivo as prime minister on Thursday, handing him the task of dealing with mounting complaints about blackouts and other problems that led his predecessor to quit.
The Indian Ocean island, eyed by miners for its mineral wealth, is struggling to rebuild its economy which was battered after a 2009 coup that drove away donors and investors.
A peaceful 2013 election helped restore some international aid, but big challenges remain, including weaning the nation off fuel and electricity subsidies. The government does not have the cash to buy enough fuel for power plants, analysts say.
Reuters

Madagascar government resigns over blackouts, social woes
Madagascar’s president has accepted the resignation of his prime minister and government amid mounting public frustration about regular power cuts and a failure to deliver on promised improvements to daily life.

The large Indian Ocean island, famed for its wildlife and eyed by foreign firms for its minerals, has struggled to revive its economy since a coup in 2009 that drove away donors and plunged the nation into prolonged crisis.
Reuters