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Madagascar

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Madagascar. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Antananarivo

Head of State

President Andry Rajoelina

Head of Government

Prime Minister Christian Ntsay

An aerial picture shows iron ore mines at the foot of Mount Leuser National Park - a cornerstone of rainforest - in Aceh, Indonesia on April 9. Photo: EPA

Climate change

Tropical forest loss still 11 football fields a minute – or Denmark per year

Researchers warn that fires fuelled by climate change are a dangerous new normal and could reverse gains made in tackling deforestation.

29 Apr 2026 - 9:35PMvideocam

US-China relations

US slams Beijing after African countries block Taiwan leader’s eSwatini trip

23 Apr 2026 - 8:15AMvideocam

My Take

My Take | Why Beijing is now the only true partner of Africa and Latin America

5 Apr 2026 - 11:05PM

Africa

Madagascar’s leader orders lie detector tests for prospective ministers

President Randrianirina orders polygraph screening, seeking people who are more than ‘60 per cent clean’.

20 Mar 2026 - 12:13PM

President Michael Randrianirina. Photo: Reuters

Protests around the world

Opinion | From memes to the streets: Gen Z’s fight back against corruption

Youth-led movements are too often treated as fleeting emotional outbursts, even though they express structured political demands.

10 Jan 2026 - 4:00PM

Africa

Army officer sworn in as Madagascar’s president after military takeover

Colonel Michael Randrianirina took the oath of office after a military power grab that sent President Andry Rajoelina fleeing.

17 Oct 2025 - 4:59PM

United Nations

AU suspends Madagascar as military prepares to install colonel as president

Colonel Randrianirina is set to be sworn in on Friday, ignoring international backlash surrounding the military’s unilateral move.

16 Oct 2025 - 2:58PM

Troops loyal to CAPSAT military unit commander Colonel Michael Randrianirina, who will be sworn in as president. Photo: AP

Africa

Madagascar’s military coup leader ‘taking position of president’

Colonel Michael Randrianirina is assuming leadership at the invitation of the High Constitutional Court due to President Andry Rajoelina’s absence.

15 Oct 2025 - 7:47PM

United Nations

Madagascar president breaks silence amid unrest and reports he fled country

Andry Rajoelina, who reportedly fled Madagascar on a French military plane, says he has relocated because his life was in danger.

14 Oct 2025 - 3:33PM

Africa

Madagascar ‘attempt to seize power illegally’ is under way, says president

The same army contingent, known as Capsat, was instrumental in propelling former DJ President Rajoelina to power in a coup in 2009.

12 Oct 2025 - 8:13PM

Members of a Madagascar army contingent known as Capsat interact with anti-government protesters in the capital city Antananarivo on Saturday. Photo: AFP

China-Africa relations

Demise of US trade deal AGOA pushes Africa further into China’s orbit

Lapse of African Growth and Opportunity Act deals tariff blow to continent and ‘creates fertile ground’ for Beijing to expand its clout.

7 Oct 2025 - 10:00AMvideocam

Kenyan workers at an export processing zone prepare garments for shipping. With the future of a long-standing US trade pact in doubt, African countries are looking to China as they reassess commercial ties. Photo: Reuters

Science

Cyborg roaches for disaster relief? Singapore team’s 68-second feat says yes

Fast automated system shows the way to mass-produce remote-controlled cyborg roaches for future disaster search missions.

26 Aug 2025 - 5:10PMvideocam

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Hong Kong’s No 2 official urges calm over fears of chikungunya fever outbreak

City’s five cases recorded in a week are ‘from the mainland or imported from overseas’, Eric Chan says.

9 Aug 2025 - 9:12PM

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Hong Kong uncovers new imported chikungunya fever case, bringing tally to 5

Case involves woman, 66, who just returned from Guangdong, while another probable patient under observation after three-country trip.

9 Aug 2025 - 1:20AM

Chikungunya fever is spread by bites from infected mosquitoes, with cases typically developing fever and joint pain that can last for months or even years. Photo: Photo: Shutterstock

China travel

China’s thrill-seekers eye adventure tourism as social media lures them off-grid

A growing contingent of Chinese tourists seeks ‘shareable’ and ‘off-the-beaten-path experiences’, away from the hustle and bustle of urban sightseeing.

22 Jun 2025 - 11:00AM

A group climbs Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Photo: Shutterstock

China-Africa relations

China on African charm offensive to rally opposition to ‘bullying’ US

While Trump targets critical minerals and specific nations, China expands influence through bilateral and multilateral engagement: analyst.

6 May 2025 - 7:00PMvideocam

China-Africa relations

China-Africa trade makes ‘moderate’ gains despite US tariffs, currency weakness

First quarter customs data shows Chinese exports to Africa climbed 11.3% to US$45.92 billion while imports from the continent fell 9.4%.

21 Apr 2025 - 5:28PMvideocam

Martial arts

Martial art you’ve probably never heard of, Moraingy seeks recognition

In Moraingy, combat sport with a 400-year history in Madagascar, Africa, there are no rules. A fan of the martial art hopes to change that.

7 Apr 2025 - 3:17PMvideocam

Practitioners of the martial art Moraingy square up during a bout in Antananarivo, Madagascar. An enthusiast for the sport hopes to professionalise it by bringing interested parties together to write some rules. Photo: AFP

History

Christian Pilard’s Little Museum of the World, a cave of wonders in Chai Wan

Pet a prehistoric mammoth, marvel at a meteorite, and even stop pangolin extinction in this unassuming vault inside an industrial building

20 Jul 2024 - 5:00PM

Hong Kong China Rugby

Hong Kong women told to ‘seize opportunity’ after draw for 2025 World Cup bid

Hong Kong will make their WXV3 debut in Dubai later this year, qualification for second World Cup on the line.

17 Jul 2024 - 3:00PM

Food and Drinks

Climate change impact pushes Hong Kong chocolate makers to plant cacao trees

Prices of cocoa beans, key ingredient of chocolate, have rocketed as climate change hits harvests. Hong Kong’s bean-to-bar chocolate makers describe how they are growing their own.

8 Jul 2024 - 10:02AM

Chocobien Chocolatier founder Arron Liu started growing cacao trees in Hong Kong a few years ago. Photo: Chocobien Chocolatier

China-Africa relations

Can China balance local interests with its needs as it eyes African fish stocks?

The country is investing heavily in port facilities across the continent, but its trawlers are accused of putting local stocks at risk.

16 Jun 2024 - 3:13PMvideocam

A Chinese-flagged vessel is stopped by coastguards of the coast of Liberia on suspicion of illegal fishing. Photo: Sea Shepherd

China-Africa relations

China envoys deliver Xi’s invite to African leaders for September FOCAC summit

In a break with tradition, several countries have announced the date for the China-Africa cooperation forum in Beijing.

7 Jun 2024 - 6:00PMvideocam

Hong Kong China Rugby

Hong Kong women keep World Cup dream alive, end ARC with win over Kazakhstan

Hong Kong outplay Kazakhstan in Asia Rugby Championship finale to secure spot in WXV3 tournament later this year, and remain in contention for 2025 Rugby World Cup in England.

1 Jun 2024 - 10:31PM

China-Africa relations

Central Chinese province steps up to boost African farming and industrial gains

Hunan vice-governor Cao Zhiqiang leads delegation of officials and company representatives to trade show in Nairobi where nearly US$300 million in deals are signed.

16 May 2024 - 6:00PMvideocam

Hunan province in central China is leading a campaign to invest in Africa to help boost production of food, some of which will be exported back to China. Photo: Xinhua

India

‘Nothing to hide’?: India’s election body under fire for BJP bias

India’s election commission faces accusations of bias towards the ruling BJP by refusing to reign in the party’s divisive campaign rhetoric and for not providing voter turnout data quickly enough.

9 May 2024 - 12:24AMvideocam

A security personnel walks past the office of the election commission of India. The commission is facing accusations from political parties and civil groups for showing bias towards the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Photo: AFP

Japan

With eye on China, Japan launches whistle-stop diplomatic tour of Global South

Madagascar, Ivory Coast and Nigeria were first on the itinerary for Tokyo’s top diplomat this week, as she also sought to push Japan’s Indo-Pacific strategy in Sri Lanka and Nepal.

6 May 2024 - 1:37PM

Celebrity children

Who is Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor’s aspiring actress daughter, Ella?

Stiller and Taylor had a public family outing in January as they attended Broadway’s Harmony with their 22-year-old daughter Ella – so who is she?

25 Apr 2024 - 6:00PM

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Madagascar

Tropical forest loss still 11 football fields a minute – or Denmark per year

Researchers warn that fires fuelled by climate change are a dangerous new normal and could reverse gains made in tackling deforestation.

US slams Beijing after African countries block Taiwan leader’s eSwatini trip

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}My Take | Why Beijing is now the only true partner of Africa and Latin America

Madagascar’s leader orders lie detector tests for prospective ministers

President Randrianirina orders polygraph screening, seeking people who are more than ‘60 per cent clean’.

Opinion | From memes to the streets: Gen Z’s fight back against corruption

Youth-led movements are too often treated as fleeting emotional outbursts, even though they express structured political demands.

Army officer sworn in as Madagascar’s president after military takeover

Colonel Michael Randrianirina took the oath of office after a military power grab that sent President Andry Rajoelina fleeing.

AU suspends Madagascar as military prepares to install colonel as president

Colonel Randrianirina is set to be sworn in on Friday, ignoring international backlash surrounding the military’s unilateral move.

Madagascar’s military coup leader ‘taking position of president’

Colonel Michael Randrianirina is assuming leadership at the invitation of the High Constitutional Court due to President Andry Rajoelina’s absence.

Madagascar president breaks silence amid unrest and reports he fled country

Andry Rajoelina, who reportedly fled Madagascar on a French military plane, says he has relocated because his life was in danger.

Madagascar ‘attempt to seize power illegally’ is under way, says president

The same army contingent, known as Capsat, was instrumental in propelling former DJ President Rajoelina to power in a coup in 2009.

Demise of US trade deal AGOA pushes Africa further into China’s orbit

Lapse of African Growth and Opportunity Act deals tariff blow to continent and ‘creates fertile ground’ for Beijing to expand its clout.

Cyborg roaches for disaster relief? Singapore team’s 68-second feat says yes

Fast automated system shows the way to mass-produce remote-controlled cyborg roaches for future disaster search missions.

Hong Kong’s No 2 official urges calm over fears of chikungunya fever outbreak

City’s five cases recorded in a week are ‘from the mainland or imported from overseas’, Eric Chan says.

Hong Kong uncovers new imported chikungunya fever case, bringing tally to 5

Case involves woman, 66, who just returned from Guangdong, while another probable patient under observation after three-country trip.

China’s thrill-seekers eye adventure tourism as social media lures them off-grid

A growing contingent of Chinese tourists seeks ‘shareable’ and ‘off-the-beaten-path experiences’, away from the hustle and bustle of urban sightseeing.

China on African charm offensive to rally opposition to ‘bullying’ US

While Trump targets critical minerals and specific nations, China expands influence through bilateral and multilateral engagement: analyst.

China-Africa trade makes ‘moderate’ gains despite US tariffs, currency weakness

First quarter customs data shows Chinese exports to Africa climbed 11.3% to US$45.92 billion while imports from the continent fell 9.4%.

Martial art you’ve probably never heard of, Moraingy seeks recognition

In Moraingy, combat sport with a 400-year history in Madagascar, Africa, there are no rules. A fan of the martial art hopes to change that.

Christian Pilard’s Little Museum of the World, a cave of wonders in Chai Wan

Pet a prehistoric mammoth, marvel at a meteorite, and even stop pangolin extinction in this unassuming vault inside an industrial building

Hong Kong women told to ‘seize opportunity’ after draw for 2025 World Cup bid

Hong Kong will make their WXV3 debut in Dubai later this year, qualification for second World Cup on the line.

Climate change impact pushes Hong Kong chocolate makers to plant cacao trees

Prices of cocoa beans, key ingredient of chocolate, have rocketed as climate change hits harvests. Hong Kong’s bean-to-bar chocolate makers describe how they are growing their own.

Can China balance local interests with its needs as it eyes African fish stocks?

The country is investing heavily in port facilities across the continent, but its trawlers are accused of putting local stocks at risk.

China envoys deliver Xi’s invite to African leaders for September FOCAC summit

In a break with tradition, several countries have announced the date for the China-Africa cooperation forum in Beijing.

Hong Kong women keep World Cup dream alive, end ARC with win over Kazakhstan

Hong Kong outplay Kazakhstan in Asia Rugby Championship finale to secure spot in WXV3 tournament later this year, and remain in contention for 2025 Rugby World Cup in England.

Central Chinese province steps up to boost African farming and industrial gains

Hunan vice-governor Cao Zhiqiang leads delegation of officials and company representatives to trade show in Nairobi where nearly US$300 million in deals are signed.

‘Nothing to hide’?: India’s election body under fire for BJP bias

India’s election commission faces accusations of bias towards the ruling BJP by refusing to reign in the party’s divisive campaign rhetoric and for not providing voter turnout data quickly enough.

With eye on China, Japan launches whistle-stop diplomatic tour of Global South

Madagascar, Ivory Coast and Nigeria were first on the itinerary for Tokyo’s top diplomat this week, as she also sought to push Japan’s Indo-Pacific strategy in Sri Lanka and Nepal.

Who is Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor’s aspiring actress daughter, Ella?

Stiller and Taylor had a public family outing in January as they attended Broadway’s Harmony with their 22-year-old daughter Ella – so who is she?

My Take | Why Beijing is now the only true partner of Africa and Latin America