On an official visit to Egypt, the head of state is seeking political backing to shift the balance within the African Union's Peace and Security Council. This point was raised during his meeting with his Egyptian counterpart yesterday.

Colonel Michaël Randrianirina, head of state, describes his trip to Egypt as historic, culminating in his meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi yesterday at the El Alamein state palace in Cairo. This is indeed the first official visit by a Malagasy head of state to Egypt since bilateral relations began in 1970.

Beyond strengthening bilateral ties through a memorandum of understanding, the Iavoloha resident came to Cairo seeking political support—an ally to cement Madagascar's lobbying efforts at the African Union's Peace and Security Council (PSC).

Like his previous meetings with African counterparts, this diplomatic objective underlies discussions between Colonel Randrianirina and President al-Sissi. In his remarks during the joint declaration, the senior officer raised Madagascar's advocacy before the PSC and Egypt's support for the Refoundation roadmap presented in late February.

"President Randrianirina and I conducted constructive and fruitful bilateral talks, during which I reaffirmed Egypt's constant position alongside our sister Republic of Madagascar during this delicate transition phase. I wished to express our full support for the sincere national efforts deployed by Malagasy authorities to implement the roadmap and refoundation process," declared President al-Sissi.

Following the military takeover announcement on October 14, 2025, the PSC immediately condemned what it called an "unconstitutional change of government." The next day, October 15, the PSC suspended Madagascar from all African Union activities. Antananarivo now seeks voices to shift this body's position and secure rehabilitation within the continental organization.

Egypt emerges as a heavyweight ally for achieving this goal. Colonel Randrianirina emphasizes Egypt's status as a recognized diplomatic power regionally and continentally. "Egypt has repeatedly demonstrated it is an essential actor in resolving political crises at regional, continental, and even global levels," states the Iavoloha resident.

The senior officer drew parallels between Madagascar's current trajectory and Egypt's experience. In 2013, Egypt underwent a military-led political shift following protests demanding the incumbent president's departure. "Egypt's reform period established all the foundations that led to its current position in Africa and the world," Colonel Randrianirina affirmed.

The Iavoloha resident made similar analogies with Gabon's trajectory during his June meeting with President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema in Libreville. Gabon held presidential elections after two years of transition—precisely the timeframe Madagascar's authorities set for completing the Refoundation process with a constitutional referendum and presidential election.

Egypt's endorsement and that of other African nations with similar trajectories could serve as a narrative of a comparable path brought to completion, which Madagascar can present before African bodies and the United Nations. The UN and AU recently dispatched a joint mission to Madagascar.

In reality, Madagascar is not diplomatically isolated. Colonel Randrianirina's multiple official visits demonstrate this, as does the continuation and consolidation of bilateral and multilateral programs in the country. However, the PSC's suspension of African Union bodies and UN reservations cast a shadow on the Refoundation administration's international standing. The Randrianirina administration clearly aims to erase this blemish.