Russia has supplied arms and deployed military personnel to support Madagascar’s military junta, as reported by Bloomberg on December 22, citing National Assembly Speaker Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, a former opposition leader.
On December 20, a Russian military aircraft landed at Ivato International Airport near the capital, Antananarivo, delivering 40 Russian soldiers and 43 crates of weapons, Randrianasoloniaiko said.
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The shipment reportedly included a range of assault and sniper rifles, as well as anti-tank missile systems. The arms were handed over to Madagascar’s Presidential Guard under what the speaker described as a “legitimate interstate cooperation agreement.”
The arrival of Russian forces and equipment follows an October 14 coup, in which military commander Michael Randrianirina, head of the elite CAPSAT unit, seized power after anti-government protests and the departure of former president Andry Rajoelina, who fled to France.
Randrianasoloniaiko also confirmed that a Russian delegation met with Randrianirina, during which the parties discussed expanding economic and military cooperation.
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“The aim of the visit was to strengthen the capacity of Madagascar’s armed forces,” said Randrianasoloniaiko. “The Russian delegation clearly expressed its willingness to support Madagascar, particularly in military training and force development.”
Following the coup, Randrianirina announced that he had made a secret visit to Dubai from December 9 to 11. The purpose of the trip was not disclosed, and he stated that it remained confidential for reasons of personal security.
Earlier, it was reported that Russia has recently intensified its information operations across Africa, with growing attention in the Russian–African media sphere to the deployment of the African Corps in the Central African Republic.
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