Madagascar has moved to deepen its cooperation with Russia as the island nation navigates a political transition following the removal of its previous government.
The Malagasy presidency confirmed on Wednesday that Moscow is supplying military equipment to Madagascar and has dispatched a delegation to train the country’s armed forces on its use. The training programme will involve multiple categories of military hardware and will be conducted with the participation of various security units stationed in the capital, Antananarivo.
In a statement, the presidency said Madagascar remains open to cooperation with a wide range of international partners, while noting that Russia has historically been a key source of the country’s military equipment.
Madagascar has been under a transitional political arrangement since October, when a coup d’état ousted former president Andry Rajoelina. The takeover followed weeks of youth-led demonstrations sparked by widespread power and water shortages, which fuelled public frustration and unrest across the country.
The latest engagement with Russia underscores Antananarivo’s efforts to stabilise its security sector and reinforce defence capacity during a period of political uncertainty, even as it signals a continued openness to diversified international partnerships.
