Madagascar in Crisis

The objective of this article is to provide a clearer explanation of the current political and economic crisis in Madagascar which can form the basis of action to addressing more effectively the growing needs for assistance of the majority of the people of Madagascar. Its key premise is that the rent seeking behaviour of the ruling elites of Madagascar is the underlying cause of political crisis. The current crisis is different because it is long term and, more importantly, is causing the increased suffering of the people of Madagascar and the loss of gains in numerous social indicators from which it will be very difficult to recover. Key international players have assisted the illegal government in power to secure more time by providing resources in the form of budget support outside the loose sanctions regime put in place by most of the international community. The result has seen the persistent stalling of the holding of elections. The cost of this approach has been in the increasing poverty of the people of Madagascar, with enormous implications for the social sectors. This article addresses analyses the current crisis in Madagascar by exploring briefly the political circumstances of the illegal government in power. It then examines the nature of state revenue caused by aid sanctions and the associated intensified resource exploitation undertaken by sections of the elite. The dire circumstances emerging from this economy are then outlined before identifying different roles of certain international stakeholders. This leads to a consideration of Madagascar’s future prospects with some suggested actions for a main stakeholder, the United Nations, in addressing increasing needs in the social sectors