Madagascar allows former leaders to return to the Indian Ocean island

Former Madagascar leaders allowed to return home

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — Madagascar’s internal security minister says the country’s former leaders are allowed to return.

Organes Rakotomihantarizaka signed an order on Thursday reversing a decision made earlier this month to bar the leaders from returning to the Indian Ocean island after talks in Mozambique.

The decision comes a day after coup leader Andry Rajoelina made a unilateral call for elections. Rajoelina took power by force in March. African countries denounced Rajoelina’s power grab as a coup and urged a unity government be formed to oversee new elections.

The man Rajoelina forced out of power, Marc Ravalomanana, and two other former presidents earlier this month named ministers for the unity government. Rajoelina boycotted those talks.