MADAGASCAR has demanded the European Union (EU) replace its ambassador to the island nation following criticism of a recent law permitting the punishment of child rapists through castration, officials disclosed on Thursday.
According to a spokesperson for the EU, Madagascar has formally requested Brussels to replace the envoy amidst escalating tensions over the contentious legislation.
‘Madagascar’s foreign affairs minister addressed a letter to the high commissioner to express his dissatisfaction… and to ask the EU proceed to replace the head of its delegation in Madagascar,’ Nabila Massrali told AFP from Brussels.
Massrali indicated that the EU is evaluating the demand ‘in consultation with the Malagasy government,’ noting that regular ambassador rotations are scheduled for September.
Clara Randrianjara, the head of communications for Madagascar’s foreign affairs ministry, refrained from elaborating on the matter, saying that ‘this letter should have remained confidential.’
The diplomatic rift stemmed from Madagascar’s parliamentary approval in early February of a bill authorising chemical and surgical castration for individuals convicted of raping minors. Amnesty International swiftly condemned the measure as ‘cruel, inhuman, and degrading.’
Subsequently, the EU ambassador to Madagascar, Isabelle Delattre Burger, known for her vocal criticism of the government, denounced the legislation during a press conference, labelling it as ‘contrary even to the Madagascar constitution’ and international norms. Her remarks prompted a summons to the Foreign Ministry.
Madagascar, heavily reliant on international aid with nearly 75 percent of its population living in poverty, faces scrutiny over its handling of the castration law, particularly from key donors like the EU.
Despite objections, Madagascar’s High Constitutional Court validated the surgical castration aspect of the bill at the end of February but excluded chemical castration due to its ‘temporary and reversible character,’ deeming it insufficient to ‘permanently neutralise sexual predators.’
The diplomatic standoff underscores the complex interplay between human rights concerns, domestic legislation, and international relations in Madagascar, raising questions about the future trajectory of its partnership with the European Union.