Sahala Fanekena Rahanitraharivony, 12 years old, who disappeared Monday morning in Ampefiloha Ambodirano, was found dead the following day in the commune of Bongatsara. Devastated, Clermont Ranaivomanana describes the moment he found his daughter. "I didn't have the strength to approach her, I burst into tears." Yesterday, in Ampefiloha Ambodirano, Clermont Ranaivomanana's voice still trembles as he recounts discovering the body of his daughter, Sahala Fanekena Rahanitraharivony, 12, found lifeless on a hillside in Bongatsara.

A security agent, this father had just completed two days of work. Returning home ill, he didn't even have the strength to prepare breakfast. Monday morning, his wife had already left for work in the free trade zone, while their children played in the yard. Around 7:30 a.m., Sahala was sent by a cousin to buy tea and bread. Returning briefly, she asked for 200 ariary to buy bread, then disappeared. She would never return.

Her father then launched a desperate search. He traveled through neighborhoods, questioned merchants, searched alleys, riverbanks and woods. He alerted the fokontany, the police, and posted a missing person notice on social media. Accompanied by his son, brother and several relatives, he continued the search relentlessly, day and night.

No conflict

"I didn't sleep, I didn't eat, I only thought about finding my daughter," he confides. Hopes arose from contradictory testimonies on Facebook, but were brutally extinguished the next day.

Late afternoon, Clermont, his brother and family members discovered Sahala in a pine forest on the Ambohimpanarivo hillside. The girl lay on her right side, wearing only underwear, her face swollen and bloodied. "She had been killed elsewhere and left there, there was no blood around," Clermont asserts, devastated.

The mother, Bakoliarisoa Hasinarivony, was not present at the discovery. Informed by phone, she collapsed. "I couldn't believe it, I went mad. We have no conflict with anyone. Sahala had no problems with the neighbors," she repeats, destroyed.

The doctor sent to the scene concluded it was rape followed by murder, committed approximately twelve hours before the body was discovered. The remains were returned to the family after standard procedures. The criminal brigade is investigating.

Gustave Mparany