The President of Madagascar Hery Rajaonarimampianina has resigned in order to contest the next election.
He stepped down on Friday in line with the country’s constitution when a sitting president decides to seek re-election.
Rajaonarimampianina will be facing some well-known rivals including opposition leader and ex-president Andry Rajoelina.
Rajaonarimampianina is resigning two months before the November 7 vote.
He said in a speech on television that “The time has come for me to resign in accordance with the constitution and today I have submitted my request to the constitutional court.”
Madagascar’s High Constitutional Court (HCC) has cleared 36 candidates to run for President in the upcoming presidential elections.
The 36 people were cleared after the court received nomination papers from 46 presidential hopefuls.
A second round of voting will take place on December 19 in case none of the candidates secures more than 50 percent in the first round.
Incumbent President Heri Rajaonarimampianina is seeking re-election after his 2013 poll victory.
There were protests a few months ago after the country banned some prominent politicians from contesting the election.
The ban was lifted by President Heri Rajaonarimampianina who then accepted the formation of a “consensus” government to help organize the impending poll.
Madagascar, a former French colony has a population of 25 million. The country has suffered from series of political instability for years.
Source: Africafeeds.com
