Madagascar’s BRICS alignment has become, at the time of writing, one of the more talked-about foreign policy moves coming out of Africa right now. Interim president Michael Randrianirina traveled to Moscow, met directly with Vladimir Putin, and made it fairly clear that Madagascar’s BRICS alignment is no longer something being casually floated. The Madagascar-Russia partnership, dormant for decades since the Soviet era, now sits at the center of the country’s new international strategy, and Russia-Africa cooperation runs all the way through it.
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BRICS Expansion in Africa and the Madagascar-Russia Partnership
Energy and Investment Plans
Randrianirina laid out a fairly concrete agenda when it comes to what Madagascar’s BRICS alignment should deliver. He named Russian energy companies Gazprom and Rosatom as targets for joint projects, signaling that the Madagascar-Russia partnership has specific industrial ambitions behind it. He had this to say:
“We hope to attract foreign companies such as Gazprom and Rosatom, with whom we would be happy to launch joint projects.”
Military Ties and the Soviet-Era Roots
The military side of Madagascar’s BRICS alignment also came up during the Moscow visit. Randrianirina acknowledged that the Malagasy army has historically relied on Russian equipment and outlined plans to modernize those capabilities through closer cooperation with Russian armed forces. He stated:
“The Malagasy army has always used only Russian weapons.”
The Putin-Madagascar Meeting and Humanitarian Aid
The Putin-Madagascar meeting stood out as the clearest sign that Madagascar’s BRICS alignment has moved into official territory. Russia also sent humanitarian aid to Madagascar after severe cyclones hit the country — an Mi-8 helicopter, support trucks, and additional supplies followed shortly after. That kind of tangible gesture adds real weight to the Russia-Africa cooperation the two sides now discuss at the diplomatic level.
Media Freedom and a New Direction
Madagascar’s BRICS alignment touched on press freedom too. Randrianirina extended an open invitation to RT to operate in Madagascar, framing it as part of a broader commitment to information diversity. He stated:
“Freedom of expression helps us improve and leads us to change.”
On what BRICS expansion in Africa could open up for Madagascar, Randrianirina kept his answer short and direct. He stated:
“Cooperation with BRICS will open new doors.”
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Where Madagascar Stands Right Now
Madagascar’s BRICS alignment reflects a pattern that several African governments now follow. It’s a deliberate reassessment of old alliances in favor of new ones. Russia-Africa cooperation has expanded steadily across the continent, and Madagascar’s BRICS alignment adds another country to that list. The Putin-Madagascar meeting, the energy talks, and the humanitarian deliveries together paint a picture of a relationship that Madagascar plans to take seriously going forward.