Andry Rajoelina, the transitional president of Madagascar, left for Tanzania Friday to discuss his country's political crisis with President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete.

Rajoelina will have a private meeting with Kikwete to discuss the crisis in Madagascar, according to a statement from the presidency of the transitional government.

In a letter seen by Xinhua on Nov. 30, Rajoelina made a request to meet with Kikwete, chair of the Troika of Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The Tanzanian president responded favorably to the request for a meeting in Dar-es-Salaam, the statement said.

SADC leaders have urged Rajoelina and Madagascar's exiled former president, Marc Ravalomanana, the two main protagonists of their country's ongoing crisis, to not run in the 2013 general election.

Ravalomanana said Tuesday that he will not run for any position in the presidential elections next year if that breaks the political deadlock in Madagascar.

The crisis started in December 2008 following a stalemate between Ravalomanana and Rajoelina. Ravalomanana, president from 2002 to 2009, gave up his power on March 17, 2009, to a military directorate, because of massive demonstration led by Rajoelina, mayor of Antananarivo from 2007 to 2009.

However the military transferred the presidency to Rajoelina few hours later. Ravalomanana fled to South Africa while Rajoelina officially took power as transitional president.

In August, according to the roadmap accepted by Madagasy main political parties and international community, the Independent National Election Commission of the transition (CENIT) announced that the Madagascar presidential elections will be held on May 8, 2013.