Antananarivo – Madagascar’s new military government has formally aligned itself with Russia, welcoming a contingent of Russian troops and a shipment of military equipment into the island nation just months after a coup d’état that ousted the previous civilian leadership, officials said.
On December 20, a Russian Air Force aircraft carrying about 40 servicemen and 43 crates of weapons landed at the international airport near Antananarivo, the capital, according to National Assembly Speaker Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko. The cargo included assault rifles, sniper rifles and anti-tank rocket launchers, which were handed over to Madagascar’s Presidential Guard, he said, describing the move as part of lawful cooperation between the two states.
The new partnership signifies a marked shift in Madagascar’s foreign and security policy less than three months after the military takeover in October, when mass protests over poverty, corruption and government dysfunction culminated in the president’s departure and the assumption of power by military leaders.
Officials from the Russian delegation told Malagasy authorities that they were prepared to assist with training and capacity-building for the country’s armed forces. Discussions between the Russian contingent and Madagascar’s military leadership also touched on broader economic cooperation, according to local reports.
The decision to embrace Russian support follows a broader trend among some African military-led governments that have sought new strategic partners in recent years, reflecting shifting geopolitical dynamics on the continent.
Madagascar’s pivot has drawn attention from regional and international observers, who are watching closely for its implications for stability in the Indian Ocean region as well as for relations with Western powers.
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