Madagascar

In the run-up to the elections, sensitive materials, including single bulletins, arrived at Ivato International Airport, welcomed by the chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission, and were sent to all constituencies in the country

Rice Observatory revealed in its latest monthly bulletin a sharp drop in rice imports to Madagascar over the past six months, a fact that surprised experts who had expected a significant increase in imports

27,8% of adults smoke in Madagascar according to the ranking of Afrique-Sur7's, which puts the country at the top of the list in the continent

The Barea Mahamasina Stadium, which was supposed to host the third and fourth days of the African qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has not been approved by the Confederation of African Football and FIFA

Ambatovy, major industrial operation mining and refining nickel and cobalt, has been allowed by the government to sell more than 10% of its ammonium sulfate production on local market for national economic interest, despite Law on Major Mining Investments

The elementary rural economy of thousands of families still depends on small-scale trade made possible by the canal, created by the French at the time of colonization to trade spices sheltered from typhoons and ocean currents, which breaks their isolation

A new customs support project, funded by USAID, has been launched to improve airport procedures, with a focus on passenger handling and cargo processing

New financing agreements with French Development Agency worth a total of €88,8 million have been signed for the development of balanced cities, strengthening the adaptation of agriculture to climate change, and improving productivity of rural populations

The Safidy Observatory, in its report on the observation of the annual revision of the electoral rolls, noted an 11,7% increase in the number of registered persons compared to the electoral rolls resulting from the 2023 revision, 42% of whom were women

The country has found itself at the centre of a heated international debate for proposed amendments to the penal code presented by President Andry Rajoelina introducing chemical and surgical castration as punishment for individuals convicted of child rape

The Africa Mercy, Mercy Ships' newly refurbished hospital ship, has arrived in Madagascar and will stay in the country from February to December 2024; it last visited the country in 2015

Faced with steady increase in sexual offences, the Council of Ministers has come out in favour of harsher punishments for child rapists and the government is reportedly considering new measures, including life imprisonment, chemical or surgical castration

To begin his second consecutive term as President, Andry Rajoelina has chosen to keep at the helm of the executive the man who has been at his side for about five years, Christian Ntsay