Controversial Landing in Mauritius: FCC Launches Investigation into Tycoon Mamy Ravatomanga

Controversial Landing in Mauritius: FCC Launches Investigation into Tycoon Mamy Ravatomanga
Defi Quotidien
mar 14/10/2025 - 11:30

A "Report on Departure" has been filed against him.
Two days after leaving Madagascar to seek refuge in Mauritius, influential businessman Maminiaina (Mamy) Ravatomanga, a Malagasy-Ivorian national and close advisor to Malagasy President Andry Rajoelina, is under investigation by the Financial Crimes Commission (FCC). This follows a complaint lodged on Monday by a Malagasy citizen regarding alleged financial misconduct.

The FCC has requested the Passport and Immigration Office (PIO) to issue a Report on Departure to be alerted in case Mamy Ravatomanga attempts to leave Mauritian territory. Investigators are trying to determine whether funds from his businesses in Madagascar were illegally transferred to Mauritius.

The private jet Cessna Citation registered 5R-HMR from the Sodiat group, owned by Mamy Ravatomanga, landed at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport in Plaisance on Saturday night at 00:44. On board were five passengers, including Christian Ntsay, the ousted former Prime Minister of Madagascar. According to available information, Christian Ntsay left Mauritius on Monday at 18:00 on a commercial flight, likely heading to Réunion.

Meanwhile, the committee chaired by Cabinet Secretary Suresh Seebaluck convened on Monday to examine the circumstances of this landing. "The committee is in the process of completing its work. I hope the report will be finalized by tomorrow (Note: Tuesday). We will then know exactly what happened," Paul Bérenger stated to Défi Quotidien.

The arrival of this aircraft has sparked a strong reaction from Paul Bérenger. On Sunday afternoon, he expressed his dissatisfaction, stating that he was "not at all satisfied" and denouncing a decision made "without prior consultation" among the various authorities involved. He then called for an investigation led by Cabinet Secretary Suresh Seebaluck.

Simultaneously, Malagasy President Andry Rajoelina was exfiltrated by French forces. He left the capital Antananarivo for Sainte-Marie Island, located east of Madagascar, before heading to Saint-Denis in Réunion, and then on to Dubai.

Maneesh Gobin: "If there is a report, it must be made public"
"We want to know under what conditions this private jet was able to land on our soil, who granted the permissions, and on what grounds these passengers were received." Speaking to the press on Monday, October 13, at the Sun Trust building in Port Louis, Maneesh Gobin, former Attorney General and Secretary General of the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), called for transparency. "If there is a report, it must be made public," he asserted firmly following the controversial landing of the Malagasy jet in Plaisance on Sunday morning.

This issue directly touches on the sovereignty of the country, Maneesh Gobin reminds us. "This is not a political issue, but a matter of principle. Mauritius must remain a state where laws and procedures are respected. We cannot accept an airplane landing without clear explanations." He urged the government, especially the acting Prime Minister Paul Bérenger, to publish the findings of the investigation as soon as they become available.

Beyond this case, the MSM Secretary General also addressed the security climate in Mauritius. According to him, recent incidents of assault, gang fights, and organized attacks indicate a worrying degradation of public order. "We are tired of seeing acts of violence multiply without any fear. These are no longer just minor incidents, but signs of growing disorder." Maneesh Gobin believes that the priority must be to restore authority and credibility to the institutions.

Air Mauritius Cancels Flights
Air Mauritius flights MK288 and MK289, scheduled for yesterday, Monday, October 13, to and from Antananarivo, have been canceled due to the unstable socio-political situation in Madagascar. In a statement, the national airline specified that this decision was taken as a safety measure, pending a favorable development on the ground. "We will resume our operations as soon as our security services give us the green light, in the interest of our passengers' safety," stated Air Mauritius.

Affected passengers are advised to check the airline's official channels for the latest updates or to contact customer service.