Madagascar: The Powerful 'Mamy', Symbol of Rajoelina's Era, Confronted by Justice

Madagascar has turned a new page. This is evident from the empty storefronts and the descent of the new rulers of the country to the headquarters of Maminiaina 'Mamy' Ravatomanga, a wealthy associate of the ousted president who is currently in hiding in Mauritius and is subject to an arrest warrant.

Before the events of September 25 and the Gen Z protests that led to the military takeover, few dared to speak the name of this 56-year-old businessman, listed among the top ten richest people in Madagascar by Forbes in 2017.

At best, he was referred to as 'Blue Stone,' the literal translation of his Malagasy name. 'Before, we were very afraid of him. We didn't dare to talk about what he was doing; it wasn’t possible,' recalls Poussy Ravelomanantsoa, a 40-year-old teleoperator passing by the Pradon villa, the headquarters of his Sodiat group in Antananarivo.

'Those who dared to oppose Mamy Ravatomanga often paid a heavy price,' notes Frédéric Lesné, former director of Transparency International Initiative Madagascar (TI-MG). For example, former minister Harry Laurent Rahajason was sentenced to thirty months in prison for false testimony and spreading false news.

Litchi, Vanilla

'Just a few days after the publication of the article revealing the extent of mismanagement in the litchi sector, the whistleblower behind these revelations was arrested for slander,' adds Frédéric Lesné.

In this sector, subject to unevenly distributed export quotas, his group has taken a lion's share, as revealed by investigations from Africa Intelligence and Le Monde. They have operated similarly in the lucrative vanilla sector. Founded in 1990 as a transport company, Sodiat has become a conglomerate involved in almost everything: automobile distribution (Toyota), aviation, private security, media, construction, health, real estate, hospitality, tourism, golf...

His empire is now exposed. On the ground floor of the red, gray, and glass building serving as his headquarters, the ready-to-wear shops are abandoned, and informal guards are stationed every ten meters to prevent any attacks on this symbol of the Rajoelina years, the president who was overthrown on Tuesday.

Once all-powerful, Mamy is now under investigation for money laundering in Mauritius, where he fled on Sunday.

The Financial Crimes Commission of this neighboring island has frozen his assets after receiving 'credible information' regarding the transfer of a 'large sum of money to Mauritius, intending to move these same funds to another jurisdiction and leave the territory.'

Lawyer Fanirisoa Ernaivo, appointed by the new Malagasy authorities to follow the case in Mauritius, assures AFP that an 'arrest warrant has been transmitted to Interpol.' The existence of at least one warrant from Malagasy justice has been confirmed to AFP by a spokesman for Capsat.

The Sodiat group has not responded to AFP's inquiries.

'The cooperation with Mauritian authorities is commendable. Numerous cases have never seen the light of day in Madagascar due to this man's influence over the Malagasy justice system,' explains this magistrate, currently exiled in France.

Consul and 'Triumvirate'

In France, a national financial prosecutor's investigation targeting him for rosewood trafficking, corruption, and tax fraud was closed in 2023.

When Mamy Ravatomanga's name appeared in the Panama Papers, this man, who is also the consul of Serbia and Côte d'Ivoire in Madagascar, defended himself by stating that 'not all offshore companies are necessarily illegal.'

A video released by the Gen Z collective summarized the accumulation of wealth he was accused of by protesters. In the streets, calls for his arrest were as fervent as those demanding Rajoelina's resignation, who first came to power through a coup in 2009 after popular mobilization.

Researcher Adrien Ratsimbaharison, author of a book on the political crisis of 2009, refers to a 'triumvirate' composed of Andry Rajoelina, Mamy Ravatomanga, and Naina Andriantsitohaina.

'These three men were friends,' he explains. 'Mamy and Naina were among the wealthiest individuals in Madagascar; they were essentially his bankers, allowing him to exert his influence. In return, Naina and Mamy used the regime to enrich themselves.'