The Big Island has become poorer since independence
Madagascar's real gross domestic product per capita has declined since 1961, one year after the independence of the Big Island, confirmed an official document made public at the end of February. A Malagasy today is 41% poorer than a Malagasy in 1961, according to the Pact on Food Sovereignty and Resilience. The document highlights the main challenge facing the country which will have more than 33 million inhabitants in 2027 : meet the food needs of its population. According to the World Bank, nearly 82% of Malagasy people lived below the international poverty line in 2022, corresponding to an income of 2,15 dollars per day.
Record rice imports in 2022
Madagascar imported nearly 745,000 tonnes of rice in 2022, according to the Malagasy Rice Observatory. Imports have increased sharply in three years : 479,000 tonnes were purchased abroad in 2020 and 629,000 tonnes in 2021. Despite everything, the Malagasy government maintains the country's objective of self-sufficiency, by focusing in particular on the distribution of fertilizers to boost the productivity of rice fields.
Ukraine : Madagascar distances itself from Russia
While affirming that “Madagascar has not changed its position”, Yvette Sylla, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Big Island, voted at the end of February for a United Nations resolution calling for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine. Last October, when his predecessor Richard Randriamandrato ordered the Malagasy representative to the UN to vote for a resolution condemning the annexation of four Ukrainian regions by Russia, he was immediately dismissed by the President of the Republic Andry Rajoelina. In March 2022, Madagascar was one of the many African countries opting for a neutral position after the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army.
The State and oil companies negotiate their respective debts
The Malagasy Ministry of Economy and Finance indicated in mid-March that the debts of oil companies operating in the country to the State amounted to 1,406 billion ariarys., i.e. more than 300 million euros corresponding to unpaid taxes and royalties. Vice versa, the debts of the state company Jirama to the same oil companies were estimated at 800 billion ariarys, to which are added approximately 300 billion in State payment arrears. An agreement between the two parties seemed on the verge of reaching mid-March, the State offering to pay its debt by issuing Treasury bonds.
Future urban train of Tananarive : the first stations emerge from the ground
Announced in 2021, the construction of a railway network crossing Tananarive and partly using disused tracks and stations has made little progress. However, government communication highlighted, mi-mars, the near completion of construction or renovation work on several stations, without mentioning a more precise timetable for the entry into service of the “urban train”. The first phase of the project plans to connect Ankorondrano (north of the city) southeast of the capital, over 14 kilometers, serving 13 stations.
