French Ambassador to Madagascar Christophe Bouchard (left), Archbishop Odon Razanakolona (center) and Paul Rafanoharana Maillot, at the archbishop's palace in Antananarivo, Madagascar, in October 2020. DR
Paul Rafanoharana Maillot, a 62-year-old former French-Malagasy gendarme who had been detained in Madagascar since August 2021 for an alleged attempted coup, was pardoned on Sunday, October 12, by President Andry Rajoelina. Seven other detainees, including Philippe François, a French national who was also convicted in the same case, were also pardoned.
The timing of the decision coincided with the evacuation of the embattled Malagasy president first to the nearby French island of La Réunion via a French military plane, and then on to Dubai. The release of Rafanoharana Maillot was seen as a gesture of gratitude from Rajoelina toward French President Emmanuel Macron.
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