Madagascar is preparing a national strategy to better manage its maritime space, balancing security, sovereignty, and economic development concerns. An national workshop on maritime governance and security opened yesterday at the Maritime Information Fusion Centre (CFIM) in Ankaditoho-Soanierana, bringing together institutional partners and key stakeholders. Running through Friday, the meeting aims to better coordinate state action at sea and develop a roadmap to strengthen governance, security, and development of the country's maritime spaces.

Prime Minister Mamitiana Rajaonarison laid out the challenges bluntly. "The navy has no warships, and our surveillance system remains very fragile," he stated. With over one million square kilometers of maritime space, an exclusive economic zone, and nearly 5,600 kilometers of coastline, Madagascar possesses considerable potential. Long overshadowed by terrestrial resources, this space represents a strategic sector the government now wants to prioritize. "One of the most important reforms concerns precisely the governance of our maritime space," the Prime Minister emphasized.

The government plans an approach combining economic and security considerations, viewing the blue economy as "a growth engine capable of creating over 300,000 jobs" through better valorization of marine resources. Madagascar's maritime space is rich in fishing, mining, and energy resources. However, it faces numerous threats including illegal fishing, transnational trafficking, and marine pollution that compromise sustainable exploitation.

Lacking sufficient resources, the country still depends heavily on international partners for water security. "If this is truly a priority, we must find means to acquire our own vessels," the Prime Minister stated, emphasizing that maritime sovereignty strengthening requires national surveillance and intervention capacities. Armed Forces Minister Ely Razafitombo indicated that "modernization and equipment policies for the national navy are already being implemented." These efforts benefit from financial and logistical support from the European Union through the EU CRIMARIO project and the Indian Ocean Commission, aimed at improving Madagascar's naval operational capacities and strengthening maritime security.