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ALL ARTICLES ON MADAGASCAR

Commodity traders 29/05/2023

Rajoelina puts his people in new vanilla body to take control of the sector

Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina in October 2021. © Joel Kouam/Reuters

Commodity traders 26/05/2023

Vanilla piles up as importers look elsewhere

The impending vanilla harvest in Madagascar is expected to be bountiful, but traders are worried about the large quantity of unsold stock leftover from last year.

Politics 23/05/2023

Siteny hires French PR firm Patricia Goldman to boost presidential run

Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko has engaged Paris-based PR agency Patricia Goldman International as he gears up for this year's presidential election. He has also been paying visits to a range of top-tier national leaders.

Infrastructure Energy 18/05/2023

Rajoelina pulls Eiffage off Sahofika dam project

After years of negotiations between the Madagascan president and the French construction company, the Sahofika hydroelectric power station project is being put out to a new call for tenders.

Mining 12/05/2023

Rio Tinto and Rajoelina haggle over mineral sands

A Malagasy worker walks along an access track at mining giant Rio Tinto's mine in Fort Dauphin. © Ed Harris/Reuters

Mining 11/05/2023

Madagascar sapphire mine exposes jewellery firms' hollow ethical claims

A sapphire mines near Ilakaka, Southern Madagascar. © Carlo Morucchio / Robert Harding via AFP

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MADAGASCAR

Finance 05/05/2023

State coffers almost empty in run-up to presidential election

During a confidential meeting with business leaders, Andry Rajoelina admitted that he would be unable to finance a number of public subsidies or to settle state arrears before June. An announcement that has gone down badly with the business community.

Politics 04/05/2023

Freemasons anxious to avoid presidential election strife

As the next presidential election approaches, the little world of Madagascan Freemasonry is discreetly setting the wheels in motion. Members of the Fraternelle des Bâtisseurs de la Cité (FRABACI) are consulting with the main lodges in order to agree a lobbying strategy to ensure the ballot passes off without incident.

Politics Diplomacy 01/05/2023

Rajoelina fails to quell ambassadors' election doubts

The Malagasy president discreetly met with a gathering of ambassadors on 24 April to discuss the financing of this year's elections, amid concerns over the loss of fundamental rights in the country.

Energy 26/04/2023

Madagascar Oil in trouble

US Holdings, formerly known as the Bermuda-based Madagascar Oil, is entering financial restructuring.

Mining 21/04/2023

World Bank's discrete lobbying crucial to mining sector reform Free

The cabinet has approved a new mining code, the reopening of the mining register and the resumption of gold exports. World Bank lobbying has been a significant factor in those decisions, the institution having made its forthcoming €200m budgetary aid conditional on the sector's reform.

World Bank President David Malpass and Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina at the Iavoloha presidential palace in Antananarivo, on 29 April 2019.

Diplomacy 18/04/2023

French foreign minister Colonna pushes back Antananarivo visit to May

French foreign minister Catherine Colonna has pushed back her official visit to Madagascar to the end of May. She will meet Malagasy president Andry Rajoelina to discuss the thorny issue of the Scattered Islands, as well as the Apollo 21 affair.

Politics 17/04/2023

Harry Rahajason plans counterattack with French lawyer William Bourdon

Madagascar's former communications minister, who has been in prison since 2020, was sentenced in February to 30 more months in detention following a complaint from the business magnate Mamy Ravatomanga. The French lawyer William Bourdon is representing him.

Finance Politics 10/04/2023

Democracy watchdog under heavy pressure from Rajoelina

The HCDDED is in Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina's crosshairs after receiving complaints from opposition MPs.

In Focus Commodity traders Politics Business 03/04/2023

How vanilla price crisis has rocked Madagascar government

The vanilla industry, which accounts for 5% of Madagascar's GDP, is at the centre of a power struggle between the government and major players in the sector, most of whom are foreign. Key to the battle is the minimum price set by Antananarivo.

The vanilla industry is at the heart of a power struggle between the Malagasy government and the sector's economic operators, over which the shadow of Mamy Ravatomanga looms.

Politics Business 24/03/2023

Rajoelina switches PR agency

J5 Co, an agency specialising in handling communications for governments, is taking over from ESL & Network as Andry Rajoelina's PR adviser in the run-up to Madagascar's presidential election.

Politics 21/03/2023

Christian churches council to supervise national consultation

The organisation grouping Madagascar's four biggest Christian churches has agreed to supervise pre-election dialogue in the island nation. It plans to hold a series of forums and to deploy observers to try to ensure the upcoming presidential polls are trouble-free.

Politics 15/03/2023

Backroom adviser Romy Voos Andrianarisoa returns to the Iavoloha Palace

The appointment in early March of Romy Voos Andrianarisoa as President Andry Rajoelina's chief of (civilian) staff provoked surprise in Antananarivan political circles.

Mining Politics Business 14/03/2023

Would-be president Siteny's Russian business ties

Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, who is running for president, can count on his economic links with the family of Marius Vizer, who heads the International Judo Federation and is close to Vladimir Putin.

Diplomacy 10/03/2023

Mohammed VI expected in Madagascar after Senegal visit

Morocco's Mohammed VI is expected to travel to Madagascar next week, the king's first visit to the country since 2016

Politics 08/03/2023

Rajoelina's reshuffle ruffles generals' feathers

Senior army officers are unhappy with the appointment as defence minister of General Josoa Rakotoarijaona, who took part in the 2009 coup, not least because other top brass once loyal to the head of state have been sidelined.

Diplomacy 06/03/2023

Scattered Islands and Apollo 21 on French foreign minister's Madagascar agenda

Catherine Colonna is scheduled to make a lightning visit next month to Antananarivo, where, as well as signing aid agreements, she is due to discuss two thorny subjects with President Andry Rajoelina.

French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna, in Brazil, 8 February 2023.

Infrastructure Politics Business 01/03/2023

Gérard Perceau, the French advisor who has President Rajoelina's ear

In four years, former Bouygues executive Gérard Perceau has become a key figure in negotiations on major infrastructure projects between the state of Madagascar and its technical and foreign financial partners.

Politics 27/02/2023

Churches in Madagascar enter presidential campaign

Protestants and Catholics in Madagascar have already gotten involved in politics in the run-up to November's election. The former deliver sermons attacking President Andry Rajoelina's record, while the latter - with the exception of the ex-archbishop of Antananarivo - cultivate their good relations with the government.

Politics Diplomacy 23/02/2023

UN reluctant to fund presidential election Free

A confidential United Nations report has recommended against funding the upcoming ballot in Madagascar for fear of compromising its reputation and credibility.

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ALL ARTICLES ON MADAGASCAR

Rajoelina puts his people in new vanilla body to take control of the sector

Vanilla piles up as importers look elsewhere

Siteny hires French PR firm Patricia Goldman to boost presidential run

Rajoelina pulls Eiffage off Sahofika dam project

Rio Tinto and Rajoelina haggle over mineral sands

Madagascar sapphire mine exposes jewellery firms' hollow ethical claims

State coffers almost empty in run-up to presidential election

Freemasons anxious to avoid presidential election strife

Rajoelina fails to quell ambassadors' election doubts

Madagascar Oil in trouble

World Bank's discrete lobbying crucial to mining sector reform Free

French foreign minister Colonna pushes back Antananarivo visit to May

Harry Rahajason plans counterattack with French lawyer William Bourdon

Democracy watchdog under heavy pressure from Rajoelina

How vanilla price crisis has rocked Madagascar government

Rajoelina switches PR agency

Christian churches council to supervise national consultation

Backroom adviser Romy Voos Andrianarisoa returns to the Iavoloha Palace

Would-be president Siteny's Russian business ties

Mohammed VI expected in Madagascar after Senegal visit

Rajoelina's reshuffle ruffles generals' feathers

Scattered Islands and Apollo 21 on French foreign minister's Madagascar agenda

Gérard Perceau, the French advisor who has President Rajoelina's ear

Churches in Madagascar enter presidential campaign

UN reluctant to fund presidential election Free

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ALL ARTICLES ON MADAGASCAR

Rajoelina puts his people in new vanilla body to take control of the sector

Vanilla piles up as importers look elsewhere

Siteny hires French PR firm Patricia Goldman to boost presidential run

Rajoelina pulls Eiffage off Sahofika dam project

Rio Tinto and Rajoelina haggle over mineral sands

Madagascar sapphire mine exposes jewellery firms' hollow ethical claims

State coffers almost empty in run-up to presidential election

Freemasons anxious to avoid presidential election strife

Rajoelina fails to quell ambassadors' election doubts

Madagascar Oil in trouble

World Bank's discrete lobbying crucial to mining sector reform Free

French foreign minister Colonna pushes back Antananarivo visit to May

Harry Rahajason plans counterattack with French lawyer William Bourdon

Democracy watchdog under heavy pressure from Rajoelina

How vanilla price crisis has rocked Madagascar government

Rajoelina switches PR agency

Christian churches council to supervise national consultation

Backroom adviser Romy Voos Andrianarisoa returns to the Iavoloha Palace

Would-be president Siteny's Russian business ties

Mohammed VI expected in Madagascar after Senegal visit

Rajoelina's reshuffle ruffles generals' feathers

Scattered Islands and Apollo 21 on French foreign minister's Madagascar agenda

Gérard Perceau, the French advisor who has President Rajoelina's ear

Churches in Madagascar enter presidential campaign

UN reluctant to fund presidential election Free

First visit

Contacts

Tools

Follow us

A website produced by

Indigo Publications also publishes: