Stories from Madagascar

The specific details of the charges and the identity of the individual are to be followed in a later report.

The Madagascar Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a communiqué on April 28 regarding a staff member at the French Embassy in Madagascar.

An estimated 1.5 million children in Madagascar are not attending school despite compulsory education laws. The report noted that low education levels and limited prospects persist in the country. In Antananarivo, children are observed performing for small amounts of money to survive. The situation has caused concern for families regarding the visibility and legitimacy of these children's activities.

An elite military unit known as Kapsat, led by Colonel Michael Randrianerina, has taken control of Madagascar following widespread protests.

Madagascar has expelled a French diplomat following accusations of involvement in destabilization activities. The specific identity of the individual was not fully disclosed in the report. Barré faces charges including criminal conspiracy and dissemination of illegal information. The suspect is accused of involvement in debt recovery, criminal association, and spreading false news to disturb public order. The individual is also suspected of planning the destruction of public property to cause electricity outages. Barret, a former military officer turned debt collector, is suspected of orchestrating a plan to destroy public property to cause electricity outages. He is currently in provisional detention and is suspected of working with Malagasy Colonel Patrick Racoutouma Mons. The plot is linked to a rebellion aiming to seize control of the court.

American company Energy Fuels has renewed its mining project in Aranoubé, located 45 km north of Tuléar in Madagascar. The project involves an investment of nearly $1 billion to produce monazite, a rare earth mineral. China currently controls approximately 80% of the global supply of this mineral. The project has faced multiple changes in ownership and has been suspended since 2019. The project has been under exploration since the early 2000s and was previously suspended in 2019. Energy Fuels has signed an investment agreement with the Malagasy state. The agreement includes a stability clause ensuring terms remain unchanged for the duration of the investment. It also provides access to international arbitration in the event of disputes. The specific terms of the agreement are expected to be made public.

A major mining project on Grand-Ile, Madagascar, is being relaunched after a 20-year period of inactivity. The project, supported by the United States, was renamed Varamada in December. The initiative is being led by the company Energy Fuels.