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In Madagascar, twenty-five years after the fire that destroyed part of Rova, the enclosure of the Queen’s Palace in the capital Antananarivo, President of the Republic Andry Rajoelina on Friday, November 6, was inaugurated with great pomp, in front of a Parterre of prestigious guests, the previously restored Queen’s Palace. The day before, Madagascar had recovered the crown from the last Malagasy queen Ranavalona III (1861-1917), a national jewel restored by France.
In his speech, the head of state, dressed in red, spoke the color of the former royalty, mainly about the national pride represented by this rehabilitation of the site. The former queen’s palace, on the heights
This castle pressed the pride of Madagascar, President Rajoelina explained, during the solemn inauguration of the rehabilitated buildings, at the microphone of our correspondent Laure Verneau.
Antananarivo, had burned in 1995“Although countries and organizations have extended their hand to us, we preferred to contribute more – as a sign of national sovereignty as the sovereign descendants said – and not ask for outside funding: it is our own money that was used to rebuild and build about this infrastructure. This castle is a witness from the past, the face of the present but above all the reflection of the country’s future. This Madagascar Castle will be the pride of Madagascar! … ”, concluded the President of Madagascar.
A rehabilitation that has aroused its share of controversy
A dozen civil society associations have protested against part of the renovation of the site, which includes the construction of a colosseum inside the Queen’s Palace. With a capacity of 400 seats, it must host popular and cultural performances of the country’s history. For these associations, this Roman-style arena has no place next to the palace, a historic and sacred place located on the heights of the capital.
►Also read : In Madagascar: a “colosseum” in the Queen’s Palace seized the Prime Minister
A petition was filed to suspend work on the court on November 4. Civil society considers this work to be illegal.
Unesco was also relocated at the beginning of this year, raising concerns about the classification of the upper city of Antananarivo as a World Heritage Site. During his speech on Friday, the president avoided mentioning this “colosseum” which was completed within the palace walls, closed to guests on Friday.
►Also read : Controversy over the great works in the Queen’s Palace in Madagascar
France’s restoration of the podium
The day before, the government had presented France’s restoration of the church on the podium of the last Malagasy queen Ranavalona III (1861-1917). This royal piece, which adorned the top of the Queen’s throne, had been on display since 1910 at the Musée des Invalides in Paris.
The gilded zinc headdress, trimmed with ocher and garnet fabric, is now displayed in the restored royal palace and this refund does not pass to some elected officials in France.
Max Brisson, Vice-Chair of the Senate Committee on Culture (and member of the Les Républicains Group), accompanied by Bineta Diagne
that a law has been adopted by the French Parliament. “The crown of the Queen of Madagascar is being transferred to Madagascar without Parliament’s announcement. These are national collections, their inevitable nature is in the law and every transfer, every return of these cultural objects to their country of origin must give rise to a law adopted by Parliament … The head of state decides, chooses from the national collections according to the current diplomatic conditions, that’s the prince’s fact! protested Max Brisson, Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Culture (and member of the Les Républicains Group), together with Bineta Diagne, from RFI’s Africa Service.
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