Madagascar draws closer to Russia after military takeover

Madagascar's military-led government has moved closer to Russia in the year since Colonel Michael Randrianirina took power, with weapons deliveries, cultural outreach and media programmes highlighting the relationship.

Randrianirina replaced then president Andry Rajoelina in October 2025 after weeks of youth-led protests. Two months later, he received Russian drones, assault rifles and handguns, and later travelled to Moscow on a Russia-chartered plane to meet President Vladimir Putin.

A Russian cultural centre has opened in Antananarivo and begun Russian-language classes. State-run RNM radio has also launched a weekly programme on Russian-Malagasy relations, and a similar programme began on state broadcaster TVM in July.

The first weapons consignment was delivered by Russian military intelligence general Andrey Averyanov, who is believed to command the Africa Corps that succeeded the Wagner paramilitary force. Africa Corps has also been tasked with training Madagascar's presidential guard.

Transparency International vice-chair Ketakandriana Rafitoson said decisions about Madagascar's diplomatic or geopolitical future should fall to an elected president, not a transitional regime. Randrianirina is serving as interim leader until elections pledged by late next year.

Bruno Fuchs, chairman of the French parliament's foreign affairs committee, said Malagasy officials had assured him there were no plans for a Russian military base on the island. Political scientist Adrien Ratsimbaharison said he doubted Madagascar would fully align with Russia because the country depends on European Union funding.

The Russian-linked African Initiative media project has also operated in Madagascar. The EU has accused African Initiative of spreading Russian disinformation in Africa, and its editor-in-chief, Artem Kureev, is under EU sanctions that describe him as an agent of Russia's FSB security services.

Randrianirina last week received Russia's charge d'affaires to discuss preparations for a Russia-Africa summit in Moscow in October.