“I am coming back, unconditionally, to wage peace, to choose democracy over tyranny and to help start real Malagasy-Malgache dialogue, to ensure that no one can ever again, unilaterally and violently, seize power in Madagascar,” Ravalomanana said in a statement.
The ousted president has been in exile in South Africa since stepping down amid violent street protests in March 2009 and handing power to the military, which promptly ceded it to current strongman Andry Rajoelina.
His return has been a major sticking point in efforts by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to mediate the crisis.
The 15-nation regional bloc called on Sunday for Rajoelina to allow Ravalomanana to return “unconditionally”, while also urging Ravalomanana to sign off on a roadmap to new elections that would make Rajoelina president of a transitional government.