This agreement looks like a fool’s game, far too good to be true. On May 27, during his participation in the International Conference on Security organized in Moscow, the Malagasy Prime Minister, Mamitiana Rajaonarison, revealed the outlines of a new partnership with the Kremlin.
He mentioned the upcoming signing of an agreement for the establishment of a common economic zone (ZEC), an entity which makes it possible to streamline economic relations between the two nations, such as the free movement of goods and capital.
The major aspect of this agreement concerns the energy sector. Antananarivo said discussions were underway with Russian authorities regarding the expansion of fuel storage facilities in Madagascar. A project that would allow the Big Island to secure its fuel supply and reduce “its exposure to global energy disruptions linked to geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region†, contextualizes the economic media Business Insider Africa.
Opaque partnership
Madagascar depends on imported oil and, like other African countries, is looking for new strategies allowing it to ensure the supply of its fuel without totally depending on the Strait of Hormuz. On Red Island, the energy issue is all the more crucial as it precipitated the fall of the previous head of state, Andry Rajoelina, in October 2025.
News Mada expressed concern, a few days before the announcement, about the limits of fuel storage facilities in Madagascar, noting that for the government, “project financing [d'agrandissement] also poses a significant challenge…. Antananarivo has undoubtedly resolved the problem by directly addressing the Kremlin, which is preparing to sign an opaque agreement including the extension of Malagasy storage capacities.
“This energy component comes the day after the announcement by the Malagasy Hydrocarbons Office (OMH) of the project to implement a strategic stock system, confirming Antananarivo’s desire to sustainably secure its supplies… observes for its part the independent Malagasy media 2424.mg.
In addition to securing its energy needs, this expansion of fuel stocks will allow Madagascar to take advantage of its geographical location, strategically placed on the main maritime routes of the Indian Ocean. According to analysts cited by Business Insider Africa, “the island could become a strategic logistics and fuel storage platform, serving certain regions of East and South Africa, if the project is successful†.
One more pass for Moscow
This energy cooperation between the two countries is not new. Following an official visit to Russia in February 2026, the new Malagasy head of state, Colonel Michaël Randrianirina, declared that “The arrival of financial aid and investments in Madagascar will help us to recover the country. This is why we came here… as quoted the Madagascar Express. That same month, the president of the Malagasy National Assembly, Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, also announced the arrival of new Russian oil distributors, reported 2424.mg in a brief.
The Kremlin’s maneuver is part of a broader and calculated strategy it has applied to other African countries, which consists of offering preferential deals on Russian fuel prices – or military support – in exchange for access to minerals. Madagascar has vast unexploited mineral reserves, including graphite, nickel, cobalt and rare earths used in electric vehicles.
Thus, within the framework of this agreement with Madagascar, Moscow gains an additional privilege for access to Africa via the Indian Ocean, to the great displeasure of other world powers which are intensifying their efforts in a competition “for influence over strategic shipping routes and critical minerals supply chains†, underlines Business Insider Africa.
In a press conference given on May 28, after the declaration of the Malagasy head of state, the secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Sergueï Choïgou, welcomed the resurgence of “the interest of African countries in cooperation with Russia†since the crisis in the Middle East, as reported Interfax, the official Russian news agency.
Faced with this puppet agreement, an economist cited by theMadagascar Express s’alarme déjà Â: “Solid guidelines are necessary to prevent it from generating an unbalanced partnership, to the disadvantage of Madagascar.†But the Malagasy government has perhaps already thrown itself into the den of the wolf.
