Rajoelina appointed Rakotomaharo as vice-president on 8 September 2009; he also appointed a new government on the same date."SADC 'rejects, condemns' new Madagascar govt", AFP, 8 September 2009."Adhésion de Rajemison Rakotomaharo et Jacques Sylla", Madagascar Tribune, 9 September 2009 . He ostensibly did so in the spirit of the Maputo agreement between Malagasy political leaders, which called for the creation of a national unity government, but the opposition denounced Rajoelina's appointments, and Rakotomaharo was considered to have completely broken with Ravalomanana.
