Andry Rajoelina received at the Elysée Palace before the opening ceremony

Andry Rajoelina, is invited, early in the afternoon to the Elysée Palace by the French President, Emmanuel Macron.

Just before the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the Malagasy President Andry Rajoelina was received by his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron at the Elysée Palace.

The President of the Republic of Madagascar shared this information on social networks. “It will be a pleasure to meet President Emmanuel Macron tomorrow, Friday July 26, at the Elysée Palace. We will discuss the bilateral relationship between France and Madagascar as well as our common projects to strengthen it,” he wrote.

Many observers expect the issue of the Scattered Islands to be addressed during the meeting between Andry Rajoelina and Emmanuel Macron. For nearly five years, discussions on this subject have been at a standstill. During their first meeting in Paris on May 29, 2019, the two men initiated negotiations and agreed to create a joint Franco-Malagasy commission to decide on the sovereignty of the Scattered Islands.

However, no agreement was reached during the first meeting of this commission in Antananarivo. The second meeting, scheduled for Paris in November 2020, was canceled. It remains to be seen whether, during their meeting today, the Malagasy president will insist on the application of the 1979 United Nations resolution, which orders France to return the Scattered Islands to Madagascar without delay.

This meeting, a few hours before the opening ceremony of the games, illustrates the importance of the partnership with the Big Island for France.

This fifth face-to-face meeting will be devoted to bilateral relations between the two countries. At the heart of the discussions, the financial commitment of France. Andry Rajoelina hopes that his host will participate more in the future projects of the Big Island: “In terms of budget, there is little investment. And yet, there is no shortage of projects,” writes L’Express de Madagascar.

Madagascar is trying to develop and attract industries to its territory. However, a major difficulty weighs on the potential installation of investors. The inconsistency that reigns over the production and distribution of electricity is a real burden.

The subject came back on the table with the energy transition, agricultural development and the future of aeronautics. The retrocession of the Scattered Islands remains the sensitive subject between the two countries.

During this meeting, French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the density of the Franco-Malagasy partnership, strong in human ties between the two diasporas, economic and commercial relations, cooperation in development as well as cultural and educational exchanges between Madagascar and France. The two leaders agreed to continue to deepen this partnership in all areas.

The two counterparts also discussed bilateral cooperation to be implemented, both for the creation of a center for state action at sea and to develop innovative transport infrastructure as well as energy or banking projects. They returned to the crisis currently facing the Great South of Madagascar, which is in the grip of famine, and the solutions that will strengthen food security in the region.

Emmanuel Macron indicated that France would continue to provide financial support to Madagascar to address this crisis.

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