Madagascar strips ousted president of citizenship, arrests ally for money laundering

Madagascar’s military-led government has revoked the citizenship of former President Andry Rajoelina, just days after his ouster, while one of his close allies has been arrested on suspicion of money laundering.

In a decree issued on Friday, October 24, 2025, Prime Minister Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo announced that Rajoelina, 51, had automatically lost his Malagasy citizenship after acquiring French nationality.

The decree cited national law, which states that any Malagasy citizen who voluntarily adopts another nationality forfeits their Malagasy citizenship.

Rajoelina, who was removed from power earlier this month after the military joined anti-government protesters, fled the country and has remained in hiding since. His current location is unknown.

Meanwhile, businessman Maminiaina Ravatomanga, a longtime associate and reported financier of Rajoelina, was arrested on Friday in connection with an investigation by Mauritius’s Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) into suspected money laundering.

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According to the FCC, Ravatomanga allegedly controlled several entities in Mauritius that held assets believed to be linked to criminal proceeds.

The commission said it obtained a Criminal Attachment Order freezing his personal bank accounts and those of his companies, covering funds totaling 6.46 billion rupees ($141.8 million) and an additional 858.5 million rupees in personal holdings.

Ravatomanga, however, denied the allegations, insisting in a sworn affidavit that his wealth was legitimately earned over three decades of business activity in Mauritius, according to Bloomberg.

“They are legitimate and clear of any tainted or illicit monies,” he stated, adding that all transactions had been conducted through reputable financial institutions.

The Star