Corruption in Madagascar is pervasive and is exacerbated by political instability and poverty. In 2024,Madagascar ranked 140th out of 180 territories inTransparency International’sCorruption Perception Index.
The severity of the high-level corruption in Madagascar has been highlighted by the case of former Prime MinisterJean Ravelonarivo. In 2021, he was found guilty of corruption and was punished with five years imprisonment and a fine of 6 billionariary or about $1.5 million.[1] The charges involved fraudulent contracts and theembezzlement of funds, which he committed during his term (2015-2016). He did not serve time in prison because he fled toSwitzerland after he was convicted. Aside from Ravelonarivo, other officials were also involved and had to leave the country to avoid prosecution. These include Raoul Arizaka Rabekoto, who was a director of the state company during Ravelonarivo’s administration.[2] These cases highlight the level of corruption and publicmalfeasance in Madagascar. Despite attempts to deal with the problem, it still persists and continues to undermine the development and effective governance of the country.
The systemic nature of corruption in Madagascar can also be demonstrated in the case of the natural resource industry. For example, artisanalgold mining is controlled by traders in collusion with government officials.[3] The process of granting mining licenses is also noted for being arbitrary and discretionary, allowing for corruption to flourish.[4]
Smuggling is also a significant source of public malfeasance in Madagascar, exploiting the country's weakrule of law. Organizedsmuggling syndicates operate extensive networks, trafficking valuable resources such asrosewood — which is highly sought after inChina — and engaging inwildlife trafficking. These illicit activities are deeply intertwined withpatronage networks that reach into the highest levels of political power.[3] The substantial profits generated by these criminal enterprises are subsequently laundered through both Madagascar's formal financial system and informal channels.
After Madagascar gained its independence fromFrance in 1960, it endured a series of military coups and political crises. This created political instability that continues to hamper the subsequent attempts to reduce corruption in the public sector. Protracted conflicts and political crises have weakened state institutions, crippling the enforcement of anti-corruption measures. This is further aggravated by the lack of strong governance structures that make it challenging to hold those guilty of malfeasance accountable. In 2013, there was a return to democratic elections and some semblance of stability began to emerge but government corruption still exists.[1]
Madagascar addresses its corruption problem through the following frameworks:
InTransparency International's 2024Corruption Perceptions Index, Madagascar scored 26 on a scale from 0 ("highly corrupt") to 100 ("very clean"). When ranked by score, Madagascar ranked 140th among the 180 countries in the Index, where the country ranked first is perceived to have the most honest public sector.[7] For comparison with regional scores, the average score among sub-Saharan African countries[Note 1] was 33. The best score in sub-Saharan Africa was 72 and the worst score was 8.[8] For comparison with worldwide scores, the best score was 90 (ranked 1), the average score was 43, and the worst score was 8 (ranked 180).[9]
