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

Madagascar
Antananarivo signs up INSTAT for population census

On 22 February, the Madagascan interior ministry signed a contract with the Institut National de la Statistique, under which the institute will provide it with agents to carry out a population census.

Madagascar
French soldiers excluded from independence day parade

Present in Antananarivo for a week, the French military contingent was only informed at the last minute that it would not be taking part in the parade to mark the 63rd anniversary of Madagascan independence.

Madagascar
Apollo 21 case: former French army colonel handed over to France

Alert published on 23/06/23 at 17.25 - Philippe François, one of the two French defendants in the alleged coup attempt against Madagascan President Andry Rajoelina, was secretly transferred to French soil on 23 June. His co-defendant is still in detention on the island.

South Africa
French foreign minister Colonna due in Pretoria

France's foreign minister Catherine Colonna is set to fly to South Africa on 18 June for a two-day visit during which she is due to meet with the country's president, Cyril Ramaphosa.

Palace Intrigues
Emmanuel Macron, Andry Rajoelina, Denis Sassou Nguesso, Mohamed Médiène

Intrigues big and small: every Tuesday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.

NigeriaEmmanuel Macron keen to visit Abuja

MadagascarFrench foreign minister Colonna again postpones visit to Rajoelina

CongoAndré Bercoff and Michel Taube back in with Denis Sassou Nguesso

AlgeriaGeneral 'Hassan' seeks DGSI post with help from 'Tufik'

Madagascar
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.

Madagascar
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.

Madagascar
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.

South Africa
French foreign minister Colonna due in Pretoria

On 27 April, France's foreign minister Catherine Colonna is to pay an official visit to South Africa, where she may meet President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Madagascar
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.

Madagascar
Paris and Antananarivo hold discreet talks about French convicted Apollo 21 coup plotter

France wants Madagascar to repatriate one of its former senior army officers jailed for trying to overthrow Andry Rajoelina last year.